IREPAS in Istanbul: All eyes on protectionist measures as IREPAS celebrates its 35th anniversary with record attendance
The 79th meeting of IREPAS (International Rebar Exporters and Producers Association) was held in Istanbul, Turkey on September 16-18, 2018. There were 139 producer representatives among the record 519 registered delegates from a total of 52 different countries. There were also 84 registrations representing 45 different raw material suppliers. At the opening of the conference which celebrated the 35th year of this bi-annual meeting, Murat Cebecioglu,... Read More
No deal: US puts tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from EU, Canada and Mexico
US commerce secretary Wilbur Ross has said that a 25 percent tariff on steel imports and a 10 percent tariff on aluminum imports from the EU, Canada and Mexico will go into effect at midnight, June 1. In March, the US imposed 25 percent duty on steel imports, while granting exemptions to the EU and some other countries until May 1, before later extending the deadline until June 1. Canada, Mexico, and the European Union have already vowed to retaliate... Read More
Short Range Outlook : April 2018
Confusion and uncertainty reign in global long products market There is obvious confusion and uncertainty in the global long steel products market triggered by the announcement of new tariffs on steel imports by President Trump as a result of the Section 232 investigation in the US, the subsequent exemptions from these tariffs, and the resulting safeguard investigation announced in the EU. Major exporters to the US – Canada, Mexico, Brazil,... Read More
Temporary exemptions to Section 232 tariffs will expire May 1
A report issued late Thursday by US Customs and Border Protection indicates that the temporary exclusions for US steel tariffs under Section 232 will expire as of May 1. Starting that day, all countries of origin will be subject to the 25 percent tariff on US steel imports. The tariffs are effective with respect to goods entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after March 23, 2018. Countries with temporary exclusions to the tariffs... Read More
US adds EU, Brazil, Argentina, Australia, and South Korea to temporary tariff exemption list
US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer announced that the European Union, Brazil, Argentina, Australia, and South Korea will be temporarily excluded from the 25 percent tariff on steel and 10 percent tariff on aluminum under the Section 232 which is set to go into effect for all other countries Friday, March 23. According to media reports, Lighthizer told the Senate Finance Committee that the Trump administration would base exemptions on “a... Read More
US DOC releases recommendations for steel tariffs or quotas under Section 232
US Department of Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross publicly released his recommendations to the president following the conclusion of the Section 232 investigation into steel imports, with three import remedy options: A global 24 percent tariff on all steel imports from all countries. A tariff of at least 53 percent on steel imports from Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Egypt, India, Malaysia, Korea, Russia, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam. A quota... Read More
Aceros Arequipa of Peru asks to investigate rebar imports from Brazil and Mexico
Peruvian steelmaker Aceros Arequipa has filed a request at the country’s institute of competition defense and intellectual property (Indecopi) asking the authority to investigate imports of Brazilian and Mexican rebar, according to media reports this week. In the filing, dated June 27, Aceros Arequipa argued that imports of Brazilian and Mexican rebar have increased in Peru and now threaten the domestic industry. Read More
Short Range Outlook : June 2017
Exporting countries under pressure amid protectionism and increased capacities in traditional import markets The supply-demand balance in the global long steel products market has been worsening over the last few weeks. Protective actions such as antidumping and countervailing duty (CVD) cases and import taxes, coupled with increasing capacities in some traditional import markets, have put export-dependent countries in a difficult situation. Protective... Read More
Short Range Outlook : February 2017
Europe, US and Asia lead the way for demand in global long steel products market Expectations for demand and order books in the supply chain of the global long steel products market made a reasonable start to business in 2017, although a sharp correction in scrap prices caused people to hesitate a bit in the EU and the US. However, market sentiment has not changed much and demand is still showing good prospects for 2017 in Europe, the US and Asia. Turkish... Read More
Chinese miners back down on AD probe against iron ore imports
The vice chairman of the Metallurgical Miners’ Association of China (MMAC) Mr Lei Pingxi has told local media that the Chinese miners has not officially requested an antidumping probe against the huge volume of low-priced iron ore imports from Brazil and Australia, but it was rather a suggestion. The vice president pointed out that this suggestion from the miners was published on the MMAC only website by mistake. Read More