The effects of illegal dumping on the local steel industry were discussed in depth Tuesday morning as County Economic Developer Clif Chitwood gave a report to the board of the Great River Economic Development Foundation and members of the Mississippi County Quorum Court.
In light of the recent layoffs by Tenaris, Chitwood said that the company has asked for government support in its complaints regarding illegal dumping.
"This is nothing more than the exporting of American jobs," he said. "Our current government isn't paying attention to protective clauses in trade agreements. In Canada a request to stop dumping will get attention within 30 days, in the U.S. it takes four years. It's a lack of political will and it's costing us jobs. China sells steel to Korea for half price, they make cheap pipe and other products and dump them into our market. All it would take is for our our government to enforce the trade agreements that we've already made."
Osceola Mayor Dickie Kennemore spoke up and noted that in commerce, Mississippi County is not just competing within its own communities or the surrounding states, it is competing with the world.
"People on our end of the county are already losing jobs to Mexico, and then sending people to train Mexican employees, where do you think that's going to lead," he said.
"We work here to create jobs, and then the next year someone moves 600 jobs to Mexico with no penalty," said Chitwood. "Tenaris remained very positive with the governor that they want to do business in Mississippi County, but they have to have business to do, and they are Nucor's biggest customer...this is the first time in U.S. history that we have been this barraged by foreign trade issues with zero interference from the federal government."
Chitwood also said that the contentious election cycle this year is affecting possible economic development projects in the county.
"Many companies are putting expansion on hold until the election is over - with such polar opposite possible turnouts, it's hard for them to plan," he said. "But there are still some projects we're working that are very much alive."
He informed the group that the Arkansas Economic Development Commission and the Arkansas Chambers of Commerce will hold their annual conferences in tandem this year, in order to focus on the Jobs for Arkansas initiative which will appear on the ballot in November. The measure, if passed, will allow counties and municipalities to bond sales tax funds over a foreseeable period to incentivize economic development projects.
sspears@blythevillecourier.com