US enters rules to resolve disputes with Mexico and Turkey

President Barack Obama's administration has sided with US steel producers in politically charged international trade disputes, ruling that imported rebar from Mexico and Turkey unfairly undermines US prices.

The US government has decided to stop at the borders of the country arriving imports of steel rebar, which is used to strengthen concrete, until there is a cash bond in the amount of the newly introduced duties. Their size varies from 10 to 66 percent for Mexican companies, and for Turkish companies, about 2 percent. The final rulings in cases will be issued this summer.

Steelmakers in Turkey and Mexico deny they violate trade laws. Companies in Mexico have also called on the Commerce Department to eliminate unnecessary trade disputes with Mexico, arguing that US steel companies control an overwhelming share of the US market.

An international trade investigation was launched by the Trade Administration last fall at the request of US steelmakers. The Steelworkers' Consolidation warned last month that the steel industry could be on the brink of liquidation if trade laws are not fully enforced.

Valves are one of the leading volume products manufactured in the United States, employing over 10,000 employees, including Ohio. US-based rebar traders said trade action should be immediate as Mexican and Turkish companies seized most of the US imports of rebar.

"Washington must stand up to defend American manufactured goods, and today's decision will help prevent the unfair rebar trade that threatens employment here at home," said Rob Portman, who represents thousands of Ohio steelworkers.