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Deal met on steel tariffs { November 19 2003 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)
http://www.dailymail.com/news/News/2003111927/http://www.dailymail.com/news/News/2003111927/
Deal met on tariffs
W.Va. steelmakers left out of talks
that included big three
Karin Fischer
Daily Mail Washington bureau
Wednesday November 19, 2003; 12:00 PM
WASHINGTON — West Virginia steelmakers were left out of backdoor negotiations in which a trio of large domestic producers agreed to end tariffs on steel imports earlier than scheduled.
The three apparently agreed to a deal that would allow the White House to roll back the tariffs on numerous types of imported steel prior to their March 2005 expiration, the Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday. Instead, the duties would end next fall.
The scheduled reduction of the tariff levels also would be accelerated.
The compromise was greeted less than enthusiastically by other industry supporters and some labor groups. And steel consumers, which have fought the tariffs, said they would accept no half-measures.
“A steel industry proposal to keep the tariffs for another year fails to address the most critical aspect of the entire debate over steel tariffs — U.S. industries that use steel have suffered 20 months of higher-cost steel prices which have damaged the U.S. economy and contributed significantly to the loss of manufacturing jobs,” said William Gaskin of the Consuming Industries Trade Action Coalition.
Gaskin also said the proposal won’t stop at least $2.2 billion in retaliatory tariffs threatened by the European Union and others if the duties aren’t lifted.
The European Union did not formally comment on the proposal today.
The Wall Street Journal reported that three companies — Nucor Corp., U.S. Steel Corp. and International Steel Group Inc. — drafted the plan, at the request of the White House. The three companies are larger and financially healthier than many other domestic producers.
President Bush, on his way to Great Britain, did not speak about the compromise Tuesday.
Weirton Steel’s Gregg Warren said he had heard rumors about a possible proposal, but that the Northern Panhandle steelmaker was not part of the talks.
“We would have liked to have been included,” Warren said.
Officials at Weirton and neighboring Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel did not reject the plan outright.
“We’re committed to campaigning for the tariff program to remain intact, but in the real world, we know the likelihood of that occurring is slim,” Warren said. “Looking at the tariff program ending or some sort of compromise — something is better than nothing.”
John Culler of Wheeling-Pittsburgh said, “Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel was not a part of the group that met with the White House, but we are still hopeful President Bush will keep the tariffs intact for the full three years.”
Officials with the Independent Steelworkers Union, which represents Weirton workers, said the group had not been notified of the plan. Gary Hubbard of the United Steelworkers said the union had not been involved in the negotiations and continues to support the full three-year tariff.
West Virginia lawmakers said they were concerned about the possible early rollback.
“It doesn’t help our companies, and it’s not going to help our steelworkers,” said Senate Steel Caucus co-chairman Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va.
Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., said, “The Bush White House seems willing to negotiate away the livelihoods of thousands of steelworkers in West Virginia and across the country . . .
“I hope that the Bush White House will rethink this ill-advised step before once again opening the floodgates to foreign steel imports.”
Writer Karin Fischer can be reached at (202) 662-8732.
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