STEEL TRADE CASE NEARING END--AWPA members embarked on an aggressive grassroots lobbying effort to circumvent massive duties and/or quotas on imported steel wire rod. More than 20 companies sent over 150 letters to 98 Members of Congress requesting their assistance in reminding the International Trade Commissioners (ITC) of their need to consider the downstream industries in any decision or recommendation they make to the president on the case.--Full Story--
STEEL QUOTA BILL DEFEATED--Thanks to an aggressive lobbying effort by AWPA members, staff and other steel consuming organizations, the US Senate defeated S 395, the Quinn-Visclosky quota bill earlier this summer by a vote of 57-43. The vote was a major victory for steel consumers who, under the aegis of the Consumer Industry Trade Action Coalition, have fought a determined offensive by steel manufacturers and the United Steel Workers Union to impose strict quotas on steel imports and make protectionist changes to the trade laws.--Full Story--
FALL MEETING TO FOCUS ON TRADE, POLITICS--The 1999 AWPA Fall Meeting, to be held September 21-23, 1999, in Alexandria, VA, will continue the tradition of advocacy and education. This year AWPA has invited presidential contenders to address the General Session on their plans, should they be elected in November 2000. We have also invited Secretary of Commerce William Daley and Rep. Phil Crane (R-IL), Chairman of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade to discuss trade issues.--Full Story--
CLINTON ADMINISTRATION'S NEW STEEL ACTION PLAN--On August 5, the Clinton Administration announced a Steel Action Plan, which is intended to supplement the President's earlier Comprehensive Plan for Steel. According to a statement from the White House, the Plan contains a number of measures that address those factors, which pose "continuing risks for the health and vitality of US steel communities and companies."--Full Story--
FIRST JOINT OPERATIONS MANAGER'S MEETING SCHEDULED--The Fall 1999 Operations manager's meeting will be held October 25 - 27 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. This meeting will be held at the Embassy Suites Hotel located 2 miles north of Will Rogers World Airport.--Full Story--
NEW NATIONAL EMISSION STANDARD FOR HAZARDOUS AIR POLLUTANTS (NESHAP)--On June 22, 1999, EPA promulgated the Final Rule for the hydrochloric acid pickling process NESHAP (40 CFR Part 68 Subpart CCC). This standard will apply to all new and existing steel pickling facilities that pickle steel using an acid solution containing a minimum of 6-percent hydrochloric acid by weight.--Full Story--
FAREWELL TO AN INDUSTRY LEADER--On May 15, 1999, the wire industry lost one of its' staunchest supporters and friends. Jerry Hudkins, President of the Wire Division of Leggett and Platt, Inc., died at the age of 63. Jerry, who was also a corporate Vice President, joined Leggett and Platt in 1980 and was instrumental in the enormous growth in the wire group and related divisions and subsidiaries.--Full Story--
ISSUES UPDATE--Ergonomics, Blacklisting, EPA Risk Management Plans (RMPs), and Regulatory Right-To-Know Act--Full Story--
ITC PUBLISHES ANNUAL REPORT FOR 1998--The United States International Trade Commission (ITC) published the Annual Report for Fiscal Year 1998, summarizing completed and pending investigations, reports, statutes, proposed legislation and trade litigation as of September 30, 1998. During FY98, the ITC completed a total of 105 investigations including one section 201 investigation, 67 title VII investigations (mostly antidumping), 17 section 337 investigations, and 14 section 332 general fact-finding investigations.--Full Story--
ITC DETERMINATION - IMPORTS OF STAINLESS STEEL ROUND WIRE--Upon receipt of a petition filed with the ITC and the Department of Commerce, investigations were instituted effective November 16, 1998 regarding the threat of material injury to the Stainless Wire Industry in the United States by reason of imports from Canada, India, Japan, Korea, Spain and Taiwan of stainless steel round wire being sold at less than fair value ("LTFV").--Full Story--
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American Wire Producers Association
801 North Fairfax Street, Suite 211
Alexandria, VA 22314-1757
Tel (703) 299-4434 | Fax (703) 299-9233 | E-mail info@awpa.org | Web: www.awpa.org
