Brown, Renacci call on panel to retain roller bearing tariffs

WASHINGTON — Sen. Sherrod Brown and his Republican opponent Jim Renacci urged the International Trade Commission to retain tariffs on imports of roller bearings from China, a move backed by the Timken Co., which produces steel bearings.

Testifying before the commission Tuesday, Brown, D-Ohio, said the eventual ruling is “critical” for Timken, headquartered in North Canton. The tariffs were first imposed more than 30 years ago and are scheduled to expire unless the trade commission acts.

“Our trade laws were written to help protect U.S. workers and businesses from unfair trade practices,” Brown told the panel. “I’m hoping the outcome in this case will help to prevent more Ohio bearings workers from getting pink slips.”

“Whether it’s Chinese producers — like in today’s case — or Korean producers, foreign competitors have consistently used unfair trade practices to attempt to gain market share in the U.S,” Brown said. “And they’ve been doing it for decades.”

Renacci, a congressman from Wadsworth, submitted written testimony to the commission, declaring “domestic producers will not be able to effectively compete if the anti-dumping order is revoked.”

“Renewal of the anti-dumping order is desperately needed to protect our domestic producers from unfair trading practices that distort the market,” Renacci’s written testimony said.

Both Senate candidates have backed the tariffs in the past.

Timken employs more than 1,400 in Ohio out of a total workforce of 15,000 worldwide.

The tariffs must be reviewed every five years. The U.S. Department of Commerce has already concluded without the tariffs, Chinese producers would dump their products in the United States at a lower cost.