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   ITC Mid-Point Review Release

 

October 29, 2003

The Honorable George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20005

Dear Mr. President:

We are writing on behalf of the companies and organizations listed below, representing millions of employees in steel-consuming and related industries across the United States, to request that the Section 201 steel tariffs be terminated at the earliest opportunity.

After eighteen months of the tariffs, it is clear that the steel industry has benefited as much as possible from the imposition of the tariffs in March 2002. It is equally clear that steel-consuming industries and their employees have suffered economic harm due to the tariffs.

As noted in the proclamation of the steel tariffs, the decision was implemented with the clear intent of reviewing it at the mid-point to determine whether it should be continued, revoked, or modified. When considering the circumstances now facing the U. S. economy, we ask that you look toward the future, and work to save the steel-consuming industries that have been negatively affected by the steel tariffs, and will continue to be severely damaged should the tariffs remain in place for the full three-year period. Nearly 13 million Americans employed in steel-consuming industries, including many family-owned, small- and medium-sized businesses, are impacted by this important decision.

The International Trade Commission (ITC) Section 332 study on the impact of the steel tariffs on steel-consuming industries reported some of the negative consequences of the steel tariffs. The study showed that the tariffs resulted in increased prices, a significant net loss to United States businesses in decreased returns on capital and labor, as well as declines in the availability and quality of steel in the year following the imposition of the tariffs, and an increase in the shifting by customers to offshore sourcing.

Specifically, the report confirmed that the 201 tariffs have damaged the U.S. economy, costing steel-consuming businesses more than $680 million. And overall, the data showed that the total effect of the tariffs was a loss of $987.2 million, which surely demonstrates that the harm to steel consumers outweighs the combined benefit to steel producers and to the government.

Additionally, nearly one quarter of steel-consuming companies responding to the ITC questionnaire reported that their customers had shifted to purchasing finished parts or assemblies overseas as a result of the steel tariffs. This is business that has left the U.S. in only a few short months that the tariffs have been in place – business likely never to return.

Mr. President, we agree that America needs a strong, globally competitive steel industry. This is also vital to many steel consumers in the United States. The steel industry is in fact now in a stronger position than it was 18 months ago, due to some consolidation and restructured labor agreements. But America — and the American steel industry — also need a strong and vibrant manufacturing sector. Eighteen additional months of the steel tariffs will further harm steel-consuming industries and will spark retaliation by U.S. trading partners that could significantly damage the U.S. economy, all without contributing to additional consolidation and alteration within the steel industry.

Steel is an important commodity. However, it is a raw material that must be forged, cast, drawn, stamped or otherwise formed into something, either a finished product or a component part of a larger product. This equally critical work is performed by the nearly 13 million employees in various steel-consuming industries. Those companies and their employees are urgently awaiting your decision on the steel tariffs — a decision to terminate the tariffs can give them hope, and offer a renewed chance to thrive.

Sincerely,

A. J. Rose Manufacturing Company
Avon, OH

Ace Clearwater Enterprises
Torrance, CA

Acme Machine Automatics Inc.
Ottoville, OH

Acro Metal Stamping Company
Milwaukee, WI

Acuity Brands Lighting Group
Conyers, GA

Admiral Tool & Manufacturing
Chicago, IL

Advance Transformer Company
Rosemont, IL

Affinity Group Inc.
Sadler, TX

Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute
Arlington, VA

Airtronics Metal Products Inc.
San Jose, CA

Alken-Ziegler Inc.

Automatic Drawn Products Inc.
Niles, IL

Award Manufacturing Inc.
Muskego, WI

Axial Industries Inc.
San Jose, CA

Bachman Machine Company
St. Louis, MO

Batesville Tool and Die
Batesville, IN

Bayloff Die and Machine
Van Buren Twp., MI

Bazz Houston Company
Garden Grove, PA

Bennett Tool & Die Co.
Nashville, TN

Bethlehem Industries
Franklin Park, IL

Bihler of America Inc.
North Branch, NJ

Blow Press
Birmingham, MI

Bracalente Manufacturing Company Inc.
Trumbauersville, PA

Bridgeport Tool & Stamping Corporation
Bridgeport, CT

Brunswick Corporation
Lake Forest, IL

Buhrke Industries Inc.
Arlington Hts., IL

Business and Institutional
Furniture Manufacturers Association
Grand Rapids, MI

Crane Production Systems
Waukesha, WI

CRS
Mentor, OH

Curtis ScrewCo Inc.
Buffalo, NY

Dallas Industries Inc.
Troy, MI

Dayton Progress Corp.
Dayton, OH

Dayton Rogers Mfg. Co.
Minneapolis, MN

Detroit Tool Metal Products
Lebanon, MO

Drawform
Zeeland, MI

E & E Manufacturing Company Inc.
Plymouth, MI

E & W Enterprises of Powell DBA Muncy Corporation
Enon, OH

E.J. Ajax and Sons
Fridley, MN

EGS Electrical Group
Skokie, IL

EH Schwab Co.
Turtle Creek, PA

Elrae Industries Inc.
Alden, NY

Emerson
St. Louis, MO

Eskay Metal Fabricating
Buffalo and Schroon Lake, NY

Woodbury, MN

Hearth & Home Technologies Inc.
Lakeville, MN

Hearth Patio & Barbecue Association

Herfco Inc.
Shirley, MA

Hialeah Metal Spinning Inc.
Hialeah, FL

Highlands Diversified Services
London, KY

Hill Manufacturing Inc.
Wauseon, OH

Hilma Div. of Carr Lane Roemheld
Fenton, MO

HK Metalcraft Mfg. Corp.
Lodi, NJ

HMS Products Company
Troy, MI

Hobart Corporation
Troy, OH

HON Industries
Muscatine, IA

Hubbell Lighting Inc.
Christainburg, VA

Hughes Parker Industries Inc.
Lawrenceburg, TN

Hypertherm
Hanover, NH

Illinois Tool Works
Glenview, IL

Independence Printing & Graphics
Independence, OH

MacLean-Fogg Company
Lake Forest, IL

Manchester Tank & Equipment Company

Manor Tool & Manufacturing Company
Schiller Park, IL

Manth-Brownell Inc.
Kirkville, NY

Maytag Corporation
Newton, IA

McAlpin Industries Inc.
Rochester, NY

McGlennon Metal Products Inc.
Columbus, OH

Mel-Ba Manufacturing
Elyria, OH

Metal Finishing Suppliers Association

Metal Works Inc.
Londonderry, NH

METALfx
Willits, CA

METCOM Inc.
Algood, TN

Midwest Machinery Sales
Elmore, OH

Miller Electric Manufacturing Co.
Appleton, WI

Minneapolis Washer & Stamping Inc.
Minneapolis, MN

Mitchell and Scott Machine Company
Indianapolis, IN

Morgal Machine Tool Co.

Plante & Moran
Southfield, MI

Plexus Systems LLC
Clarkston, MI

Precision Die & Stamping Inc.
Tempe, AZ

Precision Machine Company
Indianapolis, IN

Precision Machine Company of South Haven
South Haven, MI

Precision Machined Products Association
Brecksville, OH

Precision Metalforming Association
Independence, OH

Press Masters LLC
Plainville, CT

Prince Industries
Carol Stream, IL

Progressive Tool Co.
Waterloo, IA

Qual-Craft Industries Inc.
Stoughton, MA

Radar Industries Inc.
Warren, MI

Radiant Steel Products Co.
Williamsport, PA

Ralco Industries
Auburn Hills, MI

Regal Manufacturing Company Inc.
Chicago, IL

Reichert Stamping Co.

Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA)

Specialty International
Van Nuys, CA

Spindustries LLC
Lake Geneva, WI

Spring Engineering & Manufacturing Company
Canton, MI

Stainless Sales
Chicago, IL

Stamco Industries/William Sopko & Sons Co.
Euclid, OH

Stampings Inc.
Fraser, MI

Steel Shipping Container Institute

Stewart/EFI
Thomaston, CT

Stone City Products Inc.
Bedford, IN

Stripmatic Products Inc.
Cleveland, OH

Su-dan Corporation
Rochester Hills, MI

Superior Die Set
Cleveland, OH

Superior Plating Inc.
Minneapolis, MN

Sutherland Presses
El Segundo, CA

Unity Manufacturing
Garland, TX

Universal Screw Machine

Valley Industrial Association
Aurora, IL

Valley Tool & Die Inc.
North Royalton, OH

Varbros LLC
Brook Park, OH

W & H Stampings & Fineblanking
Hauppauge, NY

Wagner Systems Inc.
Carol Stream, IL

Walker Corporation
Ontario, CA

Ware Manufacturing
Lennox, SD

Waukesha Tool & Stamping Inc
Sussex, WI

Weber Specialties Co.
Schoolcraft, MI

Wing & Jabaay Inc.
Grand Rapids, MI

Wintriss Controls Group of Honeywell
Acton, MA

Winzeler Stamping
Montpelier, OH

Wozniak Industries Inc.
Oakbrook Terrace, IL

Wren Industries Inc.
Dayton, OH

Zierick Manufacturing Corp
Kalkaska, MI

Alpha Products Inc.
Bedford Park, IL

Ambox
Houston, TX

American Electroplaters and Surface Finishers Society

American Institute for International Steel (AIIS)

Amerimax Home Products Inc.
Lancaster, PA

Amsco Steel Company
Fort Worth, TX

AP&T North America Inc.
Monroe, NC

Association of Equipment Manufacturers

Atlantic Tool & Die Co.
Strongsville, OH

Atlas Steel Products Company
Twinsburg, OH

Caterpillar Inc.
Aurora, IL

Central Specialties Ltd.
Crystal Lake, IL

Century Metal Products Inc.
Lowell, MA

Century Metal Spinning Company
Chicago, IL

Charles Schillinger Company
Lefittown, PA

Chicago Metallic Corporation
Chicago, IL

Church Metal Spinning Company
Milwaukee, WI

CIP Stampings
Santa Fe Springs, CA

Clayton Metals Inc.
Wood Dale, IL

Clips & Clamps Industries
Plymouth, MI

Clow Stamping Co.
Merrifield, MN

Columbia Metal Spinning
Chicago, IL

Commercial Metal Forming
Youngstown, OH

Computed Tool & Engineering
Anaheim, CA

Consuming Industries Trade Action Coalition Steel Task Force

Cooper Industries
Houston, TX

Estul Tool & Manufacturing Company Inc.
Matthews, NC

Exact Tool & Die Inc.
Brook Park, OH

Ex-Cell Metal Products
Franklin Park, IL

Fabricated Metal Products
New Haven, CT

Finn Power International
Schaumberg, IL

Freundenberg Household Products
Northlake, IL

GB Manufacturing
Delta, OH

General Cable
West Nyack, NY

Genlyte Thomas Group
Louisville, KY

Glenn Metalcraft Inc.
Princeton, MN


GMP Metal Products
Oakbrook Terrace, IL

GR Spring & Stamping
Grand Rapids, MI

Graber Products Inc
Madison, WI

HADCO Lighting
Littlestown, PA

Hamilton Precision Metals
Lancaster, PA

Harvey Vogel Manufacturing Co.

Indy Lighting Inc.
Fishers, IN

ITD Precision
Houston, TX

Jagemann Stamping Co.
Manitowoc, WI

John Sterling Corporation
Richmond, IL

Juno Lighting Inc.
Des Plains, IL

Kettering Medical Network
Kettering, OH

KMS Inc.
W. Columbia, SC

Lakewood Engineering & Manufacturing
Chicago, IL

Larson Tool & Stamping Company
Attleboro, MA

Lime City Manufacturing Company Inc.
Huntington, IN

Lincoln Electric Holdings Inc.
Cleveland, OH

Link Electric & Safety Control Company
Nashville, TN

LMC Industries Inc.
Arnold, MO

Lusk Quality Machine Products
Palmdale, CA

M. S. Willett Inc.
Cockeysville, MD

Mack Engineering Corp
Minneapolis, MN

Springfield, OH

Morrissey Inc.
Bloomington, MN

Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association

Mt. Vernon Screw Products Inc.

National Association of Metal Finishers

National Cathode Corp.
Hackensack, NJ

National Electric Manufacturing Association

National Food Equipment Manufacturers Association

National Marine Manufacturers Association

National Metalwares L.P.
Aurora, IL

Neway Stamping & Manufacturing Company Inc.
Willoughby, OH

North Star Company Inc.
Gardena, CA

Norwalk Innovation Inc.
Shelton, CT

Oberg Industries
Freeport, PA

ODM Tool & Manufacturing Company Inc.
McCook, IL

Olson International Ltd.

Parkview Metal Products
Chicago, IL

Phoenix Data Communications Inc.
Chesapeake, VA

Toledo, OH

Reliable Metalcraft Corp.
Mishawaka, IN

Res Manufacturing Company
Milwaukee, WI

Research Tool & Die Works
Carson, CA

Richardson Seating Corporation
Chicago, IL

Roberts Automatic Products Inc.
Chanhassen, MN

Rotation Engineering & Manufacturing
Brooklyn Park, MN

S & Z Tool & Die Co. Inc.
Cleveland, OH

Select International Inc.
Dayton, OH

Service Stampings Inc.
Willoughby, OH

Sharon Custom Metal Forming
Farrell, PA

Shelby Industries LLC
Shelbyville, KY

Short Run Stamping
Florence, SC

Small Parts Inc.
Logansport, IN

Solid State Stamping Inc.
Temecula, CA

Southington Tool & Manufacturing Corporation
Southington, CT

Talan Products Inc.
Cleveland, OH

Tech-Matic Industries Inc.
Middleburg Heights, OH

Tennessee Screw Machine Company
McMinnville, TN

Tennessee Stampings LLC
Portland, TN

Texas Free Trade in Steel Coalition
Houston, TX

Texas Metal Spinning Inc.
Ft. Worth, TX

The Genesee Group
Grand Prairie, TX

Thiel Tool & Engineering Company Inc.
St. Louis, MO

Thomas Engineering Company
Minneapolis, MN

Toledo Metal Spinning Company
Toledo, OH

TorrMetal Corporation
Cleveland, OH

Tottser Tool & Manufacturing
Huntingdon Valley, PA

Tower Automotive
Grand Rapids, MI

Trans-Matic
Holland, MI

Tri-Craft Inc.
Middleburg Heights, OH

Tucker Industries
Bensalem, PA

Mount Kisco, NY

 

 

 

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