There are just a few weeks until the Government Affairs Conference in DC – are you registered? Don’t forget hotel reservations. Here’s some of what we’ll be discussing, in person, next month.
Steel Industry Update: Phil Bell, President Steel Manufacturers Association
Most US wire rod companies are effectively sold-out throughout the remainder of the year. With the Section 232 steel tariffs still in place and continued denials of exclusion requests; the removal of Chinese export rebates on steel; and wire rod shortages due to antidumping (AD) orders, the US market is in chaos. Of course, all of this is in the middle of a world-wide pandemic where both India and Europe have yet to emerge from lockdowns. The rapid Chinese GDP growth following the removal of lockdowns was dramatic. The US has followed very similarly. If India and Europe continue this pattern, we could expect world-wide shortages of many products, including steel. “And, by the way, can you imagine all of this with an infrastructure bill,” said Brian Burr, AWPA President.
Philip K. Bell has served as the President of the Steel Manufacturers Association (SMA) since 2013. Phil previously served as Director of External Communications and Public Affairs for Gerdau North America and is a 30-year industry veteran. In concert with the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), he leads the steel industry’s activities in Washington, DC.