U.S. steelmakers file lawsuit

U.S. steelmakers file lawsuit

WASHINGTON (AFX): Nine U.S. steel companies have filed trade
complaints against 11 countries claiming a surge in unfairly
priced imports.

The complaints, filed with the Commerce Department, target
imports of hot-rolled carbon steel from Argentina, China, India,
Indonesia, Kazakhstan, The Netherlands, Romania, South Africa,
Taiwan, Thailand and Ukraine.

The nine companies and the Independent Steelworkers Union
charge that output from these countries has either been "dumped"
on the U.S. market at prices below market value or has benefited
from unfair government subsidies.

If the Commerce Department upholds the complaints, such
imports could be hit with heavy punitive duties.

The companies lodging the complaint are Bethlehem Steel,
Gallatin Steel, IPSCO, lTV Steel Company, National Steel, Nucor,
Steel Dynamics, US Steel Group and Weirton Steel Group.