Six largest automotive companies testify
at U.S. International Trade Commission Hearing
All urge end to duties on corrosion resistant
steel
Washington, DC— Representatives of the six
largest automobile companies with manufacturing facilities in the
United States testifed before the United States International Trade
Commission (ITC), urging Commissioners to terminate anti-dumping
and countervailing duties on “corrosion resistant steel,”
a product used extensively in the manufacturing of automobiles.
The testimony by economists, purchasing executives
and managers from DaimlerChrysler, Ford, General Motors, Honda,
Nissan and Toyota marked the first time that these six companies
have united on a trade issue.
“The auto companies have come together to
call for an end to special duties on corrosion resistant steel.
These duties are imposing a punishing cost upon United States-based
manufacturers and are a backdoor tax on American consumers,”
said Steve Biegun, vice president, International Governmental Affairs
at Ford Motor Company. “A revitalized, profitable and healthy
U.S. steel industry does not need special protection. We have urged
the Commissioners to not only take our word for it, but to listen
to what steel industry executives are telling Wall Street about
their business forecast — long-term profitability and new
pricing power.”
Highlights of the auto companies’ testimony
follow:
Mustafa Mohatarem, chief economist, General Motors
Corporation: “Strong demand growth for autos means strong
demand growth for corrosion resistant steel. And the fact that demand
growth is so strong outside of North America means that foreign
steel producers are quite focused on serving that demand…The
restructuring of steel has created a very different industry. It
is not just an industry that is ready to face competition. It is
an industry that needs more competition.”
Chris Nielsen, general manager, Purchasing, Toyota
Motor Engineering and Manufacturing North America, Inc.: “…all
evidence indicates that the industry as a whole, not only our steel
suppliers, has experienced a dramatic and successful financial turnaround….
regardless of whether the orders are revoked, we do not foresee
any significant increase in imports to meet growing domestic demand.”
Larry Jutte, senior vice president and General
Manager, Purchasing of Honda of America Mfg. Inc.: “We have
seen the same developments in the marketplace that the other auto
companies have described – the market is tighter. We are not
just seeing higher prices, we are seeing other things – like
delivery issues – that tell us that our suppliers are stretched.
We have ambitious growth plans, and so do a lot of our competitors
here and overseas. We cannot afford artificial restrictions on a
growing steel market. These restrictions need to be lifted, and
lifted in this review.”
“This is the first time that these six manufacturers
have ever taken a unified position on an international trade issue.
That is a sign of the importance of this review, and also is a sign
that the case before you today is very different from the Commission’s
proceedings in 1993 and in 2000,” testified Mark S. McConnell,
counsel to the six auto manufacturers and a partner at Hogan &
Hartson LLP.
“The results are in: the steel industry
today is fundamentally different from the industry you examined
just 5 years ago. We believe this transformation – combined
with the performance shown by the facts of this investigation –
have positioned the corrosion resistant steel industry so that a
recurrence of injury is NOT likely to result once these orders are
revoked.”
The ITC is required to conduct a “sunset
review” on antidumping and countervailing duties every five
years.
The duties will be lifted unless the ITC finds
that the steel industry is likely to face material injury as a result.
The duties on corrosion resistant steel have been
in place since 1993 on imports from six countries: Australia, Canada,
France, Germany, Japan and Korea. |
