Capitol Hill Media Briefing on Steel Tariffs With Members of Congress And U.S. Automotive Parts Manufacturers

  WHAT:   Members of Congress and Member Companies from the Automotive
          Coalition on Steel Tariffs hold Media Roundtable on Steel Tariffs

  WHEN:   9:30 a.m., Tuesday, October 7

  WHERE:  U.S. Capitol, Room HC-8
          (Room is located on House side of the Capitol Building - Use South
          entrance)

  WHO:    Rep. Joe Knollenberg (R-MI)
          Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI)

          Larry Yost, Chairman of the Board & Chief Executive Officer,
           ArvinMeritor Inc. (Troy, MI)
          Larry Denton President & Chief Executive Officer,
           DURA Automotive Systems (Rochester Hills, MI)
          Ramzi Hermiz, Vice President, Global Supply Chain Management,
           Federal Mogul Corporation (Southfield, MI)
          D. W. (Bill) Shaw, President Means Industries (Saginaw, MI)
          Kurt Ruecke, Director of Corporate Communications, Metaldyne
           (Plymouth, MI)
          Russ Harpring, Plant Manager, Forging Operations, Metaldyne
           (Minerva, OH)
          Richard L. Clayton President, Textron Fastening Systems (Troy, MI)

FOCUS: The U.S. automotive parts industry purchases an average of 95 percent of its steel from domestic steel producers, making it one of the largest consumers of U.S.-produced steel. The recently published International Trade Commission 332 report confirmed that the tariffs caused significant damage to the U.S. automotive parts and components industry: three-fourths of automotive parts and component manufacturers reported changes in contract prices for steel; 87 percent reported that steel prices in the United States were higher than global prices; and 31 percent reported that their customers were now buying finished parts or assemblies overseas as a result of the tariffs.

Members of Congress and senior executives from the automotive parts industry, in Washington, D.C. to meet with Bush Administration officials, will brief journalists on efforts to convince the Administration to terminate the tariffs and discuss the impact of the steel tariffs on the industry and individual companies. Mr. Russ Harpring, the Plant Manager of Metaldyne's forging facility in Minerva, OH, will also be present to detail the detrimental effects of the tariffs on this facility and its employees.

PLEASE NOTE: RSVP requested to help expedite clearance through U.S. Capitol Security. Journalists should RSVP to Paul Nathanson (202) 466-6210 / paul.nathanson@pbnco.com) or Dara Klatt (202) 466-6210 / Dara.Klatt@pbnco.com).

THIS EVENT IS FOR JOURNALISTS ONLY

The Automotive Coalition on Steel Tariffs, comprised of the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA), the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) and the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), represents U.S. manufacturers of automotive products, including original equipment and aftermarket parts, components and accessories, and specialty and high performance automotive products.

PRNewswire -- Oct. 6