Domestic steel makers are being "seriously injured" by imports of 12 of 33 steel products under investigation by the U.S. International Trade Commission, the ITC concluded in a preliminary finding. The panel is scheduled to give President Bush its recommendations for import restrictions on Dec. 19. These may include quotas, tariffs or some combination of both.
Product categories in which the six ITC commissioners concluded imports caused injury include carbon & alloy welded tubular products and flanges. Also, the commissioners split their vote for stainless steel flanges. They voted down claims of injury in most steel piping categories, including seamless carbon & alloy, seamless OCTG, welded OCTG, and both seamless and welded stainless steel pipe. The Bush administration is widely expected to follow the commissioners' recommendations in taking action.