Steel Tariff Hearing Extended Another Day

Jason Sandefur

Trying to handle a �high� number of requests to speak on the effects of the Section 201 steel tariffs, the U.S. International Trade Commission has added a second full day of public hearings to be held June 19-20 in Washington. According to American Metal Market, ITC received 112 appearance requests from manufacturers, trade groups and lawmakers to testify on the three-year tariffs that imposed penalties of 30% on imported steel in 2002 and 24% in 2003.
In May the World Trade Organization ruled that the Bush tariffs, frequently viewed as a political move to win votes in the upcoming presidential election, violate global trade rules. The U.S. has said it will appeal the WTO ruling.
The effort by the Consuming Industries Trade Action Coalition and others to have the tariffs repealed got a boost in May when Ford Motor Co. indicated it would break its silence and become a vocal opponent of the Bush tariffs. Ford vice president Alex Ver told AMM that less steel had been available since the trade remedy was introduced in March 2002. Ford is the first major automaker to speak out against the tariffs.
Despite growing pressure to abort the remedy, steelmakers are confident the tariffs will remain in place for the full three-year term. During a roundtable discussion in San Diego, U.S. Steel Corp. CEO Thomas Usher told AMM he believes 201 will continue.
�If I were a betting man, I�d give you 25-to-1 or 30-to-1 odds that it will remain. I feel very confident.� �2003 FastenerNews.com