“It’s hard to say within any precision exactly when it’s going to come out, but there is a report that’s under review in the administration and under discussion. As that gets refined and modified, the process will come to a closure," said Earl Comstock, director of the Office of Policy and Strategic Planning.

His comments came during the 32nd annual Steel Survival Strategies conference, which is continuing today in New York, N.Y., USA. The conference is sponsored by American Metal Market and World Steel Dynamics.

Comstock said that although press reports had indicated that the department's findings and recomendations would be issued this week, the administration’s attention has been turned to the health care debate in the Senate. However, Comstock told conference attendees that it is still within “the realm of possibility” that the report will be issued by month’s end.

The steel industry has been awaiting the report to President Donald Trump, which is expected to argue that steel imports pose a threat to national security and offer recommendations on a potential course of action.