Section 201 Hearings Continue in Washington
OTTAWA, Sept. 20 /CNW/ - Canada's steel producers welcomed yesterday's
strong support from the Chairs of the U.S. Congressional and Canadian
Parliamentary Steel Caucuses.
The support came at the Section 201 hearings in Washington D.C before the
International Trade Commission (ITC). The commission is investigating the
effects of steel imports on the US steel industry.
Congressman Phil English, Chair of the U.S. Steel Caucus told the U.S.
International Trade Commission that, "...it is in the interests of U.S. steel
producers, their employees, steel industry suppliers and customers to ensure
that the North American steel markets remain integrated by excluding Canada
from any possible injury determination under this Section 201 investigation."
"Remedies to address the flood of offshore imports disrupting the U.S.
market should not sideswipe Canada," continued Mr. English, "Indeed, Canada's
market faces exactly the same challenges from offshore imports as our market."
Legal counsel for the U.S. steel industry also told the Commission that
Canadian imports do not meet the test of contributing importantly to the
injury suffered by the U.S. industry.
Tony Valeri, Chair of the Parliamentary Steel Caucus also said yesterday
Canada should be exempted noting the strong and balanced two way steel trade
between Canada and the U.S. and the fact that U.S. exports to Canada have been
growing more rapidly than Canadian exports to the U.S. market. He pointed out
that for every dollar of Canadian exports to the U.S., Canadian mills spend
between $1.20 and $1.40 in the U.S.
"Actions taken by one country, or the other, to address offshore imports
should not unfairly sideswipe the other," said Mr. Valeri. "Canada has not
contributed to the injury to U.S. producers."
This support follows on the strong support for Canada from the United
Steel Workers of America earlier in the hearings.
Leo Gerard, International President of the United Steel Workers of
America, told the Commission on Monday that Canada has not contributed to the
serious injury inflicted on the U.S. steel industry, pointing out that while
imports of all steel products from all sources had increased by 31.2 percent
between 1996 and 2000, Canadian imports increased by only 11.7 percent
appreciably less than the rate for all imports. He also pointed out that
Canadian imports represented a declining share of all steel product imports to
the U.S. over this period.
"Under the statutory criteria imports of all steel products from Canada
have not contributed importantly to the serious injury experienced by the
domestic (U.S.) industry and should not be included in the scope of the
Commission's remedy recommendations," said Gerard.
"This support is essential," said Barry Lacombe, President of the
Canadian Steel Producers Association. "Recognition of the integrated nature of
Canadian and American steel markets, and that the free flow of steel products
between our markets is in both U.S. and Canadian interests is important," he
said.
The Canadian Steel Producers Association is the national voice of
Canada's primary steel producers. With sales of over $11 billion, steelmaking
in Canada is a modern, innovative, high value-added manufacturing industry,
which generates over $3 billion in exports and supports over 150,000 jobs
across the country. Its customers are the automotive, appliance, oil and gas,
machinery, construction and packaging industries in North America and
offshore. |
