Auto Suppliers Response To International Trade Commission Ruling on Imported Steel Tariffs

Statement May Be Attributed To Ann Wilson, Vice President, Government Affairs Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association

WASHINGTON, Dec. 14 -- Auto suppliers are pleased the International Trade Commission ruled today that the U.S. steel industry no longer needs protection from four of the six countries in question that export corrosion-resistant steel into this country. We are obviously disappointed that the ITC upheld tariffs on steel from Germany and Korea.

As we have said from the beginning, these tariffs have the effect of placing upward pressure on the cost of all steel purchased in the U.S. Most of the auto suppliers currently in bankruptcy proceedings have cited the high price of steel as a leading cause of their financial difficulty.

We continue to believe strongly that the U.S. steel market should be free from government duties which can only damage this country's manufacturing industries, which, collectively, employ more than six million workers.