Keep enforcing trade rules, industry leaders tell Locke

Dec 15, 2009 | 11:26 AM | Corinna Petry

American energy independence and the continued enforcement of trade rules will go a long way toward revitalizing the U.S. manufacturing base and the economy and making America a center for innovation again, according to recommendations by the U.S. Manufacturing Council to Commerce Secretary Gary Locke.

Locke said Tuesday that many of the council's recommendations have been discussed in the White House and integrated into administration policy initiatives.

Daniel DiMicco, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Charlotte, N.C.-based Nucor Corp., along with leaders of metalworking and stamping makers, were among council members Tuesday who expressed support for the recommendations during a teleconference meeting with Locke.

"A healthy rules-based trading system is a must. We all want to abide by trade rules in order to access one another's markets, which helps U.S. manufacturers to be strong exporters," DiMicco said, noting that if the rules are enforced and the U.S. government supports energy independence with a comprehensive, forward-looking energy bill "the American manufacturing sector will come back, not just with its traditional goods but also with innovations."....