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U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, shown here during a January 2012 visit to the Nucor steel plant in Auburn, returned to the plant today to draw attention to cheap imports of steel rebar from Mexico and Turkey. Schumer, D-N.Y., wants the Commerce Department to issue trade tariffs against the foreign steel, which he says is unfairly subsidized.

(Peter Chen / The Post-Standard)

WASHINGTON -- Imports of cheap steel subsidized by Turkey and Mexico threaten jobs at the Nucor Corp. steel plant in Auburn, and should be subject to import duties, U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer said today.

Schumer, D-N.Y., visited the steel plant in Auburn this afternoon to tell its more than 300 employees that he will fight for U.S. Commerce Department action to level the playing field with the imports.

The senator said Mexico, Turkey and other countries have attempted to undercut U.S. steel producers with a surge of cheap steel rebar imports to the United States. The Commerce Department is investigating the unfair trade allegations.

Schumer said it's important for U.S. officials to address the trade issue before the start of this year's construction season, when rebar sales surge. Since 2010, Turkish and Mexican rebar imports increased by 97 percent.

"The steel we use to build our businesses and buildings should be proudly stamped 'Made in the U.S.A.' and more of it should come from Nucor, but for that to happen we must stop foreign companies from dumping artificially cheap steel on our shores," Schumer said.

He added, "The Commerce Department needs to crack down on foreign steel companies who artificially lower their prices to put Nucor on a level playing field. If up against fair competition, I know Nucor will win, which would boost jobs right here in New York at a company that supports over 300 jobs in Cayuga County's back yard."

Nucor employs about 20,500 nationwide. Schumer has previously pushed for a requirement that all U.S. military steel be made by American manufacturers such as Nucor.

Schumer said the Commerce Department has been presented with evidence that steel companies in Turkey are provided with energy subsidies by the Turkish government. But in a preliminary ruling, the department said the subsidies were too small to be considered for imposing a duty. He said a bipartisan group of senators asked the Commerce Department to reconsider its decision.

Contact Mark Weiner at mweiner@syracuse.com or 571-970-3751. Follow him on Twitter @MarkWeinerDC