by AIIS Staff | Jun 21, 2017 | Blog, Press Releases, Uncategorized
Following our highly successful media policy briefing yesterday (June 20) on potential Section 232 steel trade restrictions at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, we sent the attached letters to the Chairmen and Ranking Members of the Congressional committees with jurisdiction over United States trade policy. AIIS Chairman John D. Foster participated in this event, which was also attended by Board member Dennis Rochford of the Maritime Exchange for the Delaware River and Bay, a non-profit trade association serving port businesses throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. We will keep you fully apprised of developments and new actions regarding the section 232 and all related issues. AIIS 232 Senate Ltr 21 June 2017 AIIS 232 House Ltr 21 June 2017_1...
by AIIS Staff | Jun 21, 2017 | Blog, Press Releases
The American Institute for International Steel, flanked by other steel-consuming industry groups, is calling on Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross to hold an additional public hearing on the department’s Section 232 investigation into the national security implications of steel imports. During a June 20 event in Washington, DC, executives from the downstream industry and an international trade lawyer argued that an additional hearing would allow for a deeper dive into the potential consequences of any trade restrictions resulting from the study… Inside US Trade 232 Article Not a subscriber? Sign up for 30 days free access to exclusive, behind-the-scenes reporting on the reinvention of trade policy under the Trump administration....
by AIIS Staff | Jun 21, 2017 | Blog, Press Releases
Dear AIIS Members and Subscribers: Great event yesterday and great job by all our speakers. We had a full house and a great mix of reporters, industry representatives, government officials, embassy officials and others. I’ve attached some photos as well as the final remarks. We’ll upload the video from the event and send you a link to you over the next couple of days. Thanks! AIIS Team John D. Foster Chairman, AIIS, National Press Club Opening Remarks Remarks of Richard Chriss President, American Institute for International Steel The National Press Club Tuesday, June 20, 2017 Lewis Leibowitz, The Law Office of Lewis E. Leibowitz, AIIS Press Briefing, June 20, 2017 Statement of Robert M. Landry, Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer Port of New Orleans Hearing on the impact of Section 232 Safeguard Action on Certain Steel Products Wednesday May 24, 2017 Stuart Speyer President, Tennsco Corp. National Press Club Remarks, AIIS Press Briefing, June 20,...
by AIIS Staff | Jun 19, 2017 | Blog, Events, Press Releases
MEDIA ALERT Invitation to Cover The 232 Steel Investigation: A Self-Initiated Threat to U.S. Economic Security U.S. steel supply chain voices—from ports to steel-using manufacturers—speak out about the potentially destructive impact of steel tariffs on their own economic viability. WHAT The 232 Steel Investigation: A Self-Initiated Threat to U.S. Economic Security WHEN Tuesday, June 20, 2017 2:00 – 3:00 PM (Media Registration: 1:45 PM) WHERE National Press Club, 529 14th Street NW, 13th Floor, Washington, D.C. 20045 WHO Leaders representing the American Institute for International Steel (AIIS), Ports, and Steel Consuming Manufacturers: • Richard Chriss: President, American Institute for International Steel • Bobby Landry: Chief Commercial Officer, Port of New Orleans • Lewis Leibowitz: International trade lawyer and CITAC Counsel • Stuart Speyer: President of Tennsco Corp., a family-owned manufacturer of quality storage products based in Dickson, TN Introductory Remarks by John D. Foster, Chairman of AIIS WHY The Trump Administration is investigating whether imported steel poses a “threat to U.S. national security.” The Section 232 trade law initiative is the first step toward fulfilling a campaign pledge to bolster U.S. steelworker jobs and steel producing companies through the increased use of protectionist trade barriers. But how will other elements of the steel supply chain be affected? And will closing American doors to foreign steel really strengthen the U.S. economy? The U.S. steel industry directly employs 142,000 American workers, compared to an estimated 6.5 million who are employed by steel-using manufacturers. From busy U.S. ports to small manufacturing operations making steel-based products, millions of Americans earn their livings from the vast U.S. steel supply chain. Hear straight from the...
by AIIS Staff | Jun 19, 2017 | Blog
Dear Members & Subscribers, In the attachment you may find EUROMETAL Outlook on Economies and Steel Markets.
by AIIS Staff | Jun 16, 2017 | Blog, Press Releases
News from AIIS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 16, 2017 Alexandra Jopp Phone: 703.245.8079 jopp@aiis.org Falls Church, VA. June 16, 2017. Steel exports fell by nearly one-tenth from March to April, though they remained above the April 2016 level. The 9.6 percent monthly decline left exports at 857,582 net tons, 7.9 percent more than a year earlier. Exports to Mexico decreased 10.3 percent to 333,923 net tons, which was 9.5 percent more than in the previous April, while exports to Canada slipped 2.8 percent to 434,364 net tons, almost 6 percent more than in the same month last year. Exports to the European Union plummeted more than 37 percent to 25,929 net tons. This, though, was still almost 39 percent more than in April 2016. Despite the dip coming out of the first quarter, exports through the first four months of the year were up 10.3 percent compared to 2016 at 3.45 million net tons. Year-to-date exports to Mexico increased 16.2 percent to 1.38 million net tons, and exports to Canada from January to April grew by 5.5 percent to 1.68 million net tons. Exports to the European Union have spiked more than 54 percent so far this year to 116,461 net tons. As the Department of Commerce completes its Section 232 investigation of steel imports, American officials who are considering imposing restrictions on those imports should remember that Newton’s Third Law can apply to trade, as well as physics: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Protectionist policies will almost certainly lead to retaliatory measures, which will mean significant declines in exports of steel, and most...
by AIIS Staff | Jun 13, 2017 | Blog, Press Releases
MEDIA ALERT Invitation to Cover The 232 Steel Investigation: A Self-Initiated Threat to U.S. Economic Security U.S. steel supply chain voices—from ports to steel-using manufacturers—speak out about the potentially destructive impact of steel tariffs on their own economic viability. WHAT The 232 Steel Investigation: A Self-Initiated Threat to U.S. Economic Security WHEN Tuesday, June 20, 2017 2:00 – 3:00 PM (Media Registration: 1:45 PM) WHERE National Press Club, 529 14th Street NW, 13th Floor, Washington, D.C. 20045 WHO Leaders representing the American Institute for International Steel (AIIS), Ports, and Steel Consuming Manufacturers: • Richard Chriss: President, American Institute for International Steel • Bobby Landry: Chief Commercial Officer, Port of New Orleans • Lewis Leibowitz: International trade lawyer and CITAC Counsel • Stuart Speyer: President of Tennsco Corp., a family-owned manufacturer of quality storage products based in Dickson, TN Introductory Remarks by John D. Foster, Chairman of AIIS WHY The Trump Administration is investigating whether imported steel poses a “threat to U.S. national security.” The Section 232 trade law initiative is the first step toward fulfilling a campaign pledge to bolster U.S. steelworker jobs and steel producing companies through the increased use of protectionist trade barriers. But how will other elements of the steel supply chain be affected? And will closing American doors to foreign steel really strengthen the U.S. economy? The U.S. steel industry directly employs 142,000 American workers, compared to an estimated 6.5 million who are employed by steel-using manufacturers. From busy U.S. ports to small manufacturing operations making steel-based products, millions of Americans earn their livings from the vast U.S. steel supply chain. Hear straight from the...
by AIIS Staff | Jun 12, 2017 | Blog, Press Releases
Falls Church, VA. June 12, 2017. The American Institute for International Steel (AIIS) will make an important announcement regarding the Department of Commerce’s Section 232 national security investigation of steel imports during a special event at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, June 20. As the country’s leading voice for the steel supply chain, and for free trade in the steel sector, AIIS is working to educate lawmakers, regulators, the press, and the public about the importance of steel imports to economic growth and national security. AIIS has chosen the historic National Press Club as the site for the announcement to underscore the consequential issues that are at stake for the tens of thousands of men and women whose livelihoods depend on the steel supply chain, and for the nation as a whole. The event will be held from 2-3 p.m in the Zenger Room of the National Press Club. For more information, or to register to attend, contact Alexandra Jopp at...
by AIIS Staff | Jun 12, 2017 | Blog, Press Releases
Trump’s Steel-Trapped Minds A new Trump steel tariff would crush his ‘forgotten’ workers. June 11, 2017 5:12 p.m. ET Donald Trump has ordered a “national security” review of steel imports with a goal of justifying a broad-based tariff. If his advisers look honestly at the evidence, they can’t possibly find enough to justify such a job-killing, economically harmful policy. Start with the fact that U.S. steel prices are already higher than in the rest of the world, and the gap has significantly widened over the past five years amid increased import duties. In 2012 the average price of cold-rolled coil produced in the U.S. was 11.5% and 12.1% higher than the Chinese and Southern European equivalent. This year U.S.-made steel is 34% and 27% more expensive, respectively. American steel makers cry “dumping,” but is every foreign company in every country dumping? The Commerce Department has already imposed 152 antidumping or countervailing-duty orders on imports from 32 countries, and many more cases are pending. Commerce charged South Korea and Turkey with dumping welded line pipe in 2015 and last year slapped duties on imported cut-to-length steel plate from China, Brazil and Turkey. Antidumping duties contributed to a 25% decline in foreign imports between 2015 and 2016. Domestic steel makers have exploited these protectionist measures to raise prices and boost their bottom lines. Last year Nucor posted an 11.9% profit before taxes, depreciation and amortization. AK Steel ’s margins have doubled in two years to 8.5% while Steel Dynamics ’s has increased by half to about 15%. Opinion Journal: Trump’s Trade Protectionism Opinion Journal Video: Editorial Page Editor Paul Gigot on...
by AIIS Staff | Jun 6, 2017 | Blog, Press Releases
Falls Church, VA. June 6, 2017. The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security has posted the public comments it has received from interested parties on its Section 232 investigation into the national security implications of steel imports. All public comments were due last Wednesday after a public hearing was held on May 24. A BIS spokesman told Inside U.S. Trade that comments likely would be posted by June 2, but they were not made available until June 5. The Commerce Department [compiled all of the comments into a single 1,598-page document](https://www.bis.doc.gov/index.php/forms-documents/section-232-investigations/1726-merged-public-comments/file), which includes submissions from global and domestic steel groups and foreign governments. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross has said the final report on the 232 investigation, due to President Trump, is expected to be completed by end of June. Not a subscriber? Sign up for 30 days free access to exclusive, behind-the-scenes reporting on the reinvention of trade policy under the Trump administration....
