AIIS Decries ITC Decision in OCTG Trade Case
08/20/2013 - ITC Commissioners voted to continue cases against all nine countries in the cases brought by the domestic OCTG producers; the American Institute for International Steel decried the decision, noting that trade laws' purpose is not to protect profitable, growing industries.
The ITC Commissioners voted to continue cases against all nine countries in the cases brought by the domestic OCTG producers — India, Korea, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine and Vietnam.
“On July 2, AIIS decried the filing of trade cases by this profitable industry as ‘overkill.’ While AIIS, acknowledges that some overly aggressive suppliers had created an inventory overhang in the US market, the domestic OCTG industry is profitable, investing and growing its capacity in response to increased oil and gas drilling in the US. With this vote, the International Trade Commission commissioners ignored these simple facts and granted trade protection to domestic steel producers for at least a year, pending the outcome of the final decision on injury at the ITC next year. Put simply, this decision by the ITC can be expected to disrupt longstanding supply relationships and reflects an abusive use of the trade laws. With a profitable and growing industry in the US, along with growing demand for OCTG from all sources, domestic and imported, this is not an industry that needs trade protection,” said David Phelps, president of the American Institute for International Steel (AIIS).
“Imports have always played an important role in supplying drilling companies with OCTG and have played an important role in increasing production of energy and reducing America’s dependence on foreign oil. We are concerned that in using the trade laws to disrupt a number of legitimate, responsible and long term supply relationships, the ITC has allowed domestic industry OCTG producers to misuse the trade laws again. While most expect the facts should result in a no-injury determination at the final phase of the investigation at the ITC, this decision today will disrupt needed trade channels for over a year. Today’s decision again shows that the US’s trade laws are out of step with WTO obligations and are economically detrimental to American industry and the important jobs it creates," said John Foster, chairman of AIIS.
The American Institute for International Steel is the only steel related trade association which supports free trade. The Institute accomplishes its mission through advocacy, networking, communications and education.
“On July 2, AIIS decried the filing of trade cases by this profitable industry as ‘overkill.’ While AIIS, acknowledges that some overly aggressive suppliers had created an inventory overhang in the US market, the domestic OCTG industry is profitable, investing and growing its capacity in response to increased oil and gas drilling in the US. With this vote, the International Trade Commission commissioners ignored these simple facts and granted trade protection to domestic steel producers for at least a year, pending the outcome of the final decision on injury at the ITC next year. Put simply, this decision by the ITC can be expected to disrupt longstanding supply relationships and reflects an abusive use of the trade laws. With a profitable and growing industry in the US, along with growing demand for OCTG from all sources, domestic and imported, this is not an industry that needs trade protection,” said David Phelps, president of the American Institute for International Steel (AIIS).
“Imports have always played an important role in supplying drilling companies with OCTG and have played an important role in increasing production of energy and reducing America’s dependence on foreign oil. We are concerned that in using the trade laws to disrupt a number of legitimate, responsible and long term supply relationships, the ITC has allowed domestic industry OCTG producers to misuse the trade laws again. While most expect the facts should result in a no-injury determination at the final phase of the investigation at the ITC, this decision today will disrupt needed trade channels for over a year. Today’s decision again shows that the US’s trade laws are out of step with WTO obligations and are economically detrimental to American industry and the important jobs it creates," said John Foster, chairman of AIIS.
The American Institute for International Steel is the only steel related trade association which supports free trade. The Institute accomplishes its mission through advocacy, networking, communications and education.
