Cleveland-Cliffs and the United Steelworkers Union Jointly Comment on the Tin Mill Products Final Report Released by the ITC

CLEVELAND--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) this week issued public documents detailing the rationale behind its unanimous negative injury determination in the tin mill products trade case brought by co-petitioners Cleveland-Cliffs and the United Steelworkers (USW). This determination by the ITC negated the implementation of anti-dumping and countervailing duties calculated by the Department of Commerce and will result in the continuation of widespread unfair trade practices in the tin mill products market.

Lourenco Goncalves, Cleveland-Cliffs' Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "It is now clear that the decision by United States Steel Corporation not to participate as a petitioner in this trade case -- or provide a substantive response to the ITC’s request for further information on the idling of tin lines in Gary and East Chicago, Indiana and the closure of UPI in California -- directly led to the ITC’s negative determination. Had U.S. Steel cooperated with the ITC, the Commission would not have been left without the information needed to discern the market forces behind U.S. Steel’s withdrawal from the tin mill products market in the United States.”

Mr. Goncalves continued, “U.S. Steel’s January 2022 announcement that it would shut down its UPI tin mill in Pittsburg, California left the West Coast completely exposed to imports, particularly from Asian countries like Japan and China. This decision played a major role in the surge of imported tin mill product that hit the U.S. in mid-2022 and decimated the domestic industry, harming workers and communities. In spite of U.S. Steel’s intransigence, I am grateful for the partnership of the USW that allowed this case to go forward. The report issued this week made clear that, unfortunately, the ITC discounted the filings and testimony of the USW that clearly articulated how its members at Cleveland-Cliffs and U.S. Steel had been materially injured by unfair trade.”

“USW members across the tin mill industry can compete with anyone on a level playing field,” said USW International President David McCall. “Unfortunately, the ITC’s decision continues to leave them and their families vulnerable to unfair trade, threatening their livelihoods and imperiling the communities in which they live and work.

“Dumped and illegally subsidized tin mill products have already cost far too many good, American jobs, and USW members understand as well as anyone that without relief, foreign producers will continue to undercut our market until we are wholly dependent on them.

“It’s clear that our nation urgently needs strategic reform of our broken trade system so that domestic workers and industries aren’t forced to fight on a case-by-case basis to ensure they have a future.”

About Cleveland-Cliffs Inc.

Cleveland-Cliffs is the largest flat-rolled steel producer in North America. Founded in 1847 as a mine operator, Cliffs is also the largest manufacturer of iron ore pellets in North America. The Company is vertically integrated from mined raw materials, direct reduced iron, and ferrous scrap to primary steelmaking and downstream finishing, stamping, tooling, and tubing. Cleveland-Cliffs is the largest supplier of steel to the automotive industry in North America and serves a diverse range of other markets due to its comprehensive offering of flat-rolled steel products. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Cleveland-Cliffs employs approximately 28,000 people across its operations in the United States and Canada.

About the United Steelworkers

The USW represents 850,000 workers employed in metals, mining, pulp and paper, rubber, chemicals, glass, auto supply and the energy-producing industries, along with a growing number of workers in health care, public sector, higher education, tech and service occupations.

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MEDIA CONTACTS:
Patricia Persico
Senior Director, Corporate Communications
(216) 694-5316

Jess Kamm
USW Communications Director
412-562-2444

INVESTOR CONTACT:
James Kerr
Director, Investor Relations
(216) 694-7719

Source: Cleveland-Cliffs Inc.

Released February 29, 2024