Last Thursday, policy wonks observed the confirmation hearing of Katherine Tai to be the new United States Trade Representative, replacing Robert Lighthizer. When a new administration takes over, the previous leadership departs at noon on Jan. 20 and “acting” leadership assumes authority, but generally not much power. The new team is nominated, typically on Jan. […]
“Life’s full of tough choices, innit?” Ursula, The Little Mermaid (1989) That memorable cinematic line brings to mind the dilemmas of trade, diplomacy and national security. Economic interests sometime interfere with military and human rights considerations. Add the COVID pandemic into the mix, which has profoundly affected international commerce. First, the changes in international trade […]
“Life’s full of tough choices, innit?” Ursula, The Little Mermaid (1989) That memorable cinematic line brings to mind the dilemmas of trade, diplomacy and national security. Economic interests sometime interfere with military and human rights considerations. Add the COVID pandemic into the mix, which has profoundly affected international commerce. First, the changes in international trade […]
An interesting feature of trade remedy law, by which I refer to as antidumping, countervailing duty, safeguards and Section 232 import “adjustments,” is alleged circumvention of these orders. Readers have asked questions about this subject, which can catch downstream users and importers unawares. Circumvention refers to processing goods that are subject to trade restrictions (duties […]
An interesting feature of trade remedy law, by which I refer to as antidumping, countervailing duty, safeguards and Section 232 import “adjustments,” is alleged circumvention of these orders. Readers have asked questions about this subject, which can catch downstream users and importers unawares. Circumvention refers to processing goods that are subject to trade restrictions (duties […]
When nations go to war, trade between them, at least in modern times, is supposed to stop. There was little complaint after Pearl Harbor, for example, about legislative and executive actions to stop all commerce between the United States on the one hand, and Germany, Italy and Japan on the other. We used to assume […]
A court decision last week highlights the limits Congress placed on presidential authority under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act. In PrimeSource Building Products v. United States (decided April 5), the Court of International Trade ruled that presidential Proclamation 9980 (issued Jan. 24, 2020), imposing tariffs on certain steel and aluminum “derivative products” was […]
In December 2020, Congress passed a massive spending bill, which is the way appropriations have been done in Washington for the last 20 years or so. One new provision with international implications is the requirement for the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) to prepare an annual threat assessment report. This new report, issued recently by […]
Count me as an optimist—that events move, sporadically and inconsistently, but generally toward progress. I received a lot of messages during the past week that wondered openly whether talks between the United States and the European Union might lead to an end to the steel and aluminum tariffs that have been in effect since 2018. […]
Count me as an optimist—that events move, sporadically and inconsistently, but generally toward progress. I received a lot of messages during the past week that wondered openly whether talks between the United States and the European Union might lead to an end to the steel and aluminum tariffs that have been in effect since 2018. […]
Two phenomena that we have not seen in a long time have recently appeared. Whether they are short-term events or long-term realities is provoking debate. I am speaking of the distinct but related issues of inflation and shortages of, it seems, nearly everything. Inflation was a major factor in the U.S. economy throughout the 1970s. […]
Strong demand and tight supply pushed steel prices upwards throughout December, with hot rolled prices nearing quadruple digits as 2020 came to a close. Steel Market Update’s hot rolled price index reached $985 per ton by the end of December, up $180 per ton or 22 percent from the beginning of the month. The SMU […]
As we enter the New Year registrations are starting to accelerate for the 32nd annual Tampa Steel Conference which will be held virtually on February 2nd of this year. We currently have 150 registrations, and we expect 300-500 attendees once the conference opens. Here are the companies registered. Those with an asterisk (*) next to […]
Steel Market Update is pleased to announce that veteran steel reporter Michael Cowden has become the newest member of the Steel Market Update team. Michael has joined SMU as Senior Editor where he will bring his experience reporting on flat rolled and plate markets, steel pricing, news and steel-related human-interest stories. “Michael Cowden is well respected within […]
As we enter the New Year, registrations are starting to accelerate for the 32nd annual Tampa Steel Conference to be held virtually on Feb. 2. We currently have close to 200 registrations, and we expect 400-500 attendees once the conference opens. Here are the companies registered. Those with an asterisk (*) next to their name means they […]
Steel Market Update is pleased to announce that on Jan. 4, 2021, Michael Cowden will become the newest member of the Steel Market Update team. Michael will join SMU as Senior Editor where he will bring his experience reporting on flat rolled and plate markets, steel pricing, news and steel-related human-interest stories. “Michael Cowden is […]
Steel Market Update is pleased to announce that on Jan. 4, 2021, Michael Cowden will become the newest member of the Steel Market Update team. Michael will join SMU as Senior Editor where he will bring his experience reporting on flat rolled and plate markets, steel pricing, news and steel-related human-interest stories. “Michael Cowden is […]
ArcelorMittal North America will invest $18.5 million (CAD $24 million) to add capability to ArcelorMittal Dofasco’s No. 5 Hot-Dipped Galvanizing Line. The investment will allow Dofasco to add Aluminum Silicon (Alusi®) to its patented Usibor® Press Hardenable Steel for use in automotive structural and safety components. “The addition of Alusi® Coated Usibor® capacity at ArcelorMittal […]
Among steelmaking raw materials, the prices of iron ore, pig iron, scrap, zinc and aluminum continue to see large gains in December compared to months prior, up as much as 65 percent year over year. Iron ore, pig iron and scrap prices have seen significant increases compared to the late summer months. Coking coal prices […]
This report is an analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data and is intended to provide subscribers with a view of the competitive position of sheet steel, aluminum, plastic and wood. The analysis includes some downstream products and a comparison of truck and rail transportation. On Dec. 10, the BLS released its series of Producer […]
Registration is in full swing for the 2021 Tampa Steel Conference, which will be held virtually on Feb. 2, 2021. Here are just a few of the companies already registered to attend (those with an asterisk * mean more than one person is registered for the event): All Metals*, ArcelorMittal Dofasco*, Bank of America Merrill […]
Majestic Steel has completed the acquisition of P&S Metals and Supply, a Las Vegas-based steel service center and processor. The addition of P&S will extend Majestic’s footprint in Nevada and the western United States. “We are happy to welcome P&S Metals and Supply to the Majestic family,” said Todd Leebow, Majestic President and CEO. “P&S […]
Contractors Steel Company, a Midwest-based service center operated under UPG Enterprises, has acquired family-owned Borrmann Metal Center, a light structural and specialty metal service center based in the Los Angeles area. Borrmann has two California locations with more than 200,000 square feet of warehouse space and a fleet of 15 trucks. Borrmann offers a wide […]
Olympic Steel has acquired the assets of Action Stainless & Alloys, Inc., adding the Dallas, Texas-based distributor to its Specialty Metals business segment. Action Stainless & Alloys is a full-line distributor of stainless steel and aluminum plate, sheet, angles, rounds, flat bar, tubing and pipe and offers a range of processing, including plasma, laser and […]
Panelists in a webinar presented by the Alliance for American Manufacturing on Wednesday said an infrastructure bill and sensible trade policy should be top priorities for the new administration. Entitled “How Can President-Elect Joe Biden Build Back Better,” panel members discussed what the Biden administration will need to do to rebuild the economy. Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA) […]
Editor’s note: SMU Contributor David Feldstein is president of Rock Trading Advisors. David has over 20 years of trading experience in financial markets and has been active in the ferrous futures space for over eight years. You can learn more at www.thefeldstein.com or add him on twitter @TheFeldstein and on Instragram at #thefeldstein. During the […]
Editor’s note: SMU Contributor David Feldstein is president of Rock Trading Advisors. David has over 20 years of trading experience in financial markets and has been active in the ferrous futures space for over eight years. You can learn more at www.thefeldstein.com or add him on twitter @TheFeldstein and on Instragram at #thefeldstein. The CME […]
Editor’s note: SMU Contributor David Feldstein is president of Rock Trading Advisors. David has over 20 years of trading experience in financial markets and has been active in the ferrous futures space for over eight years. You can learn more at www.thefeldstein.com or add him on twitter @TheFeldstein and on Instragram at #thefeldstein. So far […]
Steel prices continued to climb in November on strong demand and tight steel supplies. Steel Market Update’s hot rolled price index reached $770 per ton by the end of November, up 10 percent from the beginning of the month. The SMU Pricing Momentum Indicator remained at Higher, indicating prices are expected to rise further over […]
Trade attorney and Steel Market Update contributor Lewis Leibowitz offers the following update on events in Washington: The transition to a new administration is now strongly under way. Tomorrow, the president-elect is set to name additional members of his economic team, including the roster of international trade officials. The time for speculation is over since […]