Export Data News
- U.S. steel leaders urge action against imports from China
Date: 26-Jan-2007 Sources: (Shenzhen Daily)
STRONG U.S. Government action is needed soon to stop 'subsidized?steel imports from China, top U.S. steel industry officials said Thursday.
'It's reaching the level where it's a serious concern,'John Surma, chief executive officer of U.S. Steel Corp., told reporters after meetings with lawmakers and a top U.S. Commerce Department official.
Surma alleged that government subsidies have fueled a doubling of Chinese steel production over the last three years to more than 400 million tons in 2006.
'I don't want to see that increase by another 100 million tons this year,'Surma said.
The rapid expansion has helped boost China's steel exports to the United States to about 5.4 million tons in 2006, from minimal levels just two or three years ago.
The U.S. steel industry wants action from both the Bush administration and Congress before the situation gets worse, said Leo Gerard, president of the United Steelworkers Union, who accompanied Surma to the meetings.
Sen. Jay Rockefeller, a West Virginia Democrat, introduced a bill Wednesday that revamps U.S. trade remedy laws to make it easier to win import relief against China, Gerard said.
The U.S. Trade Representative's office also has indicated it could bring a complaint at the World Trade Organization against China's steel subsidies, Surma said.
Sponsor Results:
