WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) hosted a news conference call to discuss recent developments on his Eliminating Global Market Distortions to Protect American Jobs Act – also called Leveling the Playing Field 2.0 – which would help Ohio manufacturers and their workers fight back against unfair competition from countries like China. The legislation recently passed the House of Representatives as part of the larger competition package, the America COMPETES Act of 2022. The Senate passed its version of the COMPETES Act, called the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act, last summer.
 
“Ohio companies face unfair foreign competition. And China is always coming up with new ways to skirt the rules and distort the global market. Our bill will help us address new problems with new, innovative tools. It will allow us to crack down on repeat offenders and serial cheaters,” said Brown. “Ohio companies and Ohio jobs are depending on us to get this done. Senator Portman and I are working together on this, and we will push to make sure Leveling the Playing Field is in any final bill the House and Senate negotiate.”
 
Brown and Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) introduced the legislation in April, which would strengthen U.S. trade remedy laws and ensure they remain effective tools to fight back against unfair trade practices and protect American workers. Brown’s legislation builds on the success of his 2015 legislation, the original Leveling the Playing Field Act, which led to key wins for Ohio companies. The new law would establish the new concept of “successive investigations” to improve how effective the U.S. trade remedy system is in responding to repeat offenders and serial cheaters – helping to level the playing field for American workers.
 
Brown was joined on the call by P. Jeffrey Pizzola, who is the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer for the American Kenda Rubber Industrial Company and the Chief Commercial Officer and Chief Financial Officer for Americana Development Incorporated.
 
“Now more than ever our country’s manufacturers rely on a level playing field to compete against growing unfair trade practices. At Americana Development, Inc. and our Dexstar division, our company and our employees know the importance of the trade laws and we applaud Congress for moving the America COMPETES Act of 2022 forward,” said Pizzola. “We are especially grateful to Senator Sherrod Brown for his leadership and commitment to Ohio manufacturers and workers to move this legislation forward. We will work with the Senate to ensure this measure crosses the finish line.”
 

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