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Letter to the New York Times Editor: Buying Steel From China: The MTA Explains

08/15/2013 - In a letter to the editor of the New York Times, the chairman and CEO of the New York City Metropolitan Transportation Authority responds to an op-ed focusing on its decision to use Chinese steel in the upper level of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.

Letter to the Editor in the New York Times:
Re: “The Price of ‘Made in China,’ ” by Peter Navarro (Op-Ed, Aug. 5):
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is replacing the upper level of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge with a lighter and more resilient orthotropic steel deck to extend the useful life of the longest suspension bridge in North America and to add a new high-occupancy vehicle lane to alleviate congestion.
But in focusing on the M.T.A.’s purchase of specialty steel fabricated by a Chinese company, Mr. Navarro chooses an inappropriate project to illustrate his broad objections to doing business with China.
The M.T.A., with an excellent record of creating American jobs through capital projects like this one, was unable to identify an American fabricator ready, willing and able to supply the steel deck panels in the quantities needed — contrary to the United Steelworkers’ claims of knowing American companies that could and would do the work…