Congressman Rick Nolan introduces Bill to Ban Foreign Steel Imports

Congressman Rick Nolan is pushing for a bill to restrengthen the mining industry in Minnesota following hundreds of layoffs over the last few weeks. 

Nolan announced Monday that he is introducing legislation to immediately halt imports of foreign steel for five years. 

The goal is to give the U.S. steel industry time to return to 100 percent production capacity.  

The measure could come as soon as November 30, when Congress returns from their Thanksgiving holiday.

Nolan’s bill comes on the heels of more than 500 workers being laid off at Cliffs Northshore Mining Operation in Silver Bay and the idling of Magnetation’s Plant 2 in Bovey, impacting up to 163 workers. 

Nolan also plans to introduce a companion bill introduced by U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken to toughen U.S. trade enforcement policies and impose high duties on foreign imports causing injuries to U.S. manufacturers and workers. 

In 2001, President George Bush implemented tariffs on a number of steel products after thousands of workers iron workers lost their jobs. The move helped the struggling iron ore industry recover. 

There are 1,750 workers in Minnesota’s 8th District who have lost their jobs, and more than 9,000 laid off steelworkers across the country.