U.S. steelmakers seek duties on low-priced imports

U.S. steelmakers seek duties on low-priced imports

Washington (DPA): U.S. steel makers urged the government Wednesday to impose stiff import duties against foreign- manufactured steel products they say are being dumped on the U.S. market.

The manufacturers, along with the United Steelworkers union, want duties of up to 223 per cent on steel imports from Japan, China, Brazil, Argentina, Indonesia, Russia, South Africa, Slovakia, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey and Venezuela.

Japan and Russia, in particular, have been criticized by U.S. officials for dumping low-priced steel as a means of boosting exports during the emerging markets financial crisis.

"The massive imports of unfairly priced and subsidized steel imports that continue to overwhelm the U.S. market are severely injuring American steel companies, their workers, and communities," the steel makers said in a statement announcing their petitions.

"Foreign producers continue to ignore international trade rules by flooding this market with dumped and subsidized steel," they said, noting that market barriers often prevent U.S. steel products from competing in those countries.