HR0936 LRB096 20915 GRL 36729 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, Spartan Light Metal Products has been an industry
3 leader in magnesium custom die castings for the past 4 decades;
4 the company has been owned and operated as a family business
5 since 1961 and employs over 600 people; and
 
6     WHEREAS, Spartan Light Metal Products provides die cast
7 products from magnesium alloys that reduce weight and improve
8 performance of products at competitive costs; and
 
9     WHEREAS, Magnesium die casting, such as Spartan Light Metal
10 Products, are being greatly harmed by the tariffs (731-TA-1071
11 and 731-TA-1072) that have been placed on imported magnesium
12 alloys by the United States International Trade Commission;
13 these tariffs allow the nation's lone magnesium producer to set
14 whatever price it chooses for raw magnesium, driving many die
15 cast companies out of business; and
 
16     WHEREAS, The tariffs have created an advantage for foreign
17 competitors, who can purchase magnesium at
18 globally-competitive prices and export finished products to
19 U.S. markets free of penalties; this practice replaces U.S.
20 manufacturing jobs and could lead to bankruptcy for the
21 industry; and
 

 

 

HR0936 - 2 - LRB096 20915 GRL 36729 r

1     WHEREAS, The tariffs have also placed U.S. car
2 manufacturers at a cost and weight disadvantage against foreign
3 carmakers in meeting Corporate Average Fuel Economy
4 requirements; as a result, about 60% of Spartan Light Metal
5 Products' magnesium business for 2011 is disappearing at a time
6 when the demand for magnesium products is growing; therefore,
7 be it
 
8     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
9 NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
10 urge the U.S. President and Congress to find a creative
11 solution to protect the nation's lone magnesium producer
12 without destroying the U.S. magnesium die casting industry; and
13 be it further
 
14     RESOLVED, That we further urge the U.S. President and
15 Congress to lift U.S. tariffs 731-TA-1071 and 731-TA-1072 on
16 die cast magnesium alloys from China and Russia or to create a
17 fair market by placing a similar tariff on imported assemblies
18 and products made from die cast magnesium alloys; and be it
19 further
 
20     RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
21 presented to the President of the United States and the members
22 of the Illinois congressional delegation.