U.S. must focus on helping manufacturers maintain edge in innovation

GRAND RAPIDS - Congressman Vernon J. Ehlers, R-Grand Rapids, made the following statement in response to President George W. Bush's announcement Thursday afternoon that he would rescind 21-month-old, 30 percent tariffs on imported foreign steel, effective at 12 midnight tonight.

Ehlers spoke Thursday at a roundtable on the future of American furniture making at the Midwest Industrial Woodworking Expo at the new DeVos Place in Grand Rapids, discussing his recently introduced legislation (H.R. 3598) to assist the U.S. manufacturing sector in developing new manufacturing technologies:

"I am delighted that the President has ended these tariffs, as I disagreed with his decision to implement them in the first place. Eliminating the steel tariff will result in a lower cost for steel for manufacturers of office furniture, auto parts and many other products produced in West Michigan. In turn, this will lower the cost of those final products, which will drive up sales and increase employment in our area.

"It is important to address unfair trade practices, such as the dumping of foreign products on the American marketplace at below-cost prices, which the tariff was intended to counteract. But we must do so in a manner that promotes fair and open trade around the world.

"American manufacturers make products that are second-to-none in terms of quality, craftsmanship and innovation. Now we must focus on ways to help our manufacturers maintain and expand their competitive edge through innovation."