'Made in India': Lawmakers call foreign steel a slap in the face to U.S. workers
BY MARIA BARAN - News-Democrat
Local lawmakers are calling foreign steel being used to construct a pipeline near the metro-east a slap in the face to U.S. workers.
Steel pipes painted with a "Made in India" logo are being shipped through Granite City, right in front of the steel mill where more than 2,800 steelworkers have been laid off.
The pipes are being used to construct a pipeline to transport Canadian tar sands crude oil from Calgary to Southwestern Illinois.
"This is a perfect example of how our trade laws are failing our workers. At a time when thousands of local steelworkers are laid off, shipping steel from India for a project in our area is unacceptable and outrageous," said U.S. Rep. Jerry Costello, D-Belleville. "It is precisely why I support strong 'Buy America' provisions and have voted against trade agreements. We can and should make that steel in the U.S. and I will continue to work for fair trade policies that support good-paying jobs here at home."
U.S. Rep. John Shimkus, R-Collinsville, said, "I am shocked and saddened to learn that steel is being imported for this project. The pipeline is vital to our nation's energy needs, but bringing in foreign steel is a slap in the face to the hard-working men and women out of work from our local steel mills and finishing companies."
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