Steel

I thought your editorial “Steel’s Bad Habits” (Feb. 11) was an interesting discussion but perhaps a bit oversimplified and a might short of the mark.

It should be noted that the import restrictions you refer to are known as the Voluntary Restraint Agreements and were negotiated by the executive branch of our government as a means of combatting unfairly traded imports of steel products. In short, the dumping of imports that were subsidized by foreign governments.

During the period of 1982-1984, domestic steel producers, complying with existing U.S. trade laws, filed a massive number of unfair trade cases against many importing countries. The Administration, recognizing that the courts would rule these cases valid, elected to initiate voluntary restraint discussions with key foreign governments in order to encourage domestic producers to withdraw their complaints.

Having over 30 years of experience with the steel industry on the West Coast, I can assure you that the glut of excess worldwide steel capacity and the actions of foreign governments to subsidize their own industries is, indeed, the very root of the problem. Realistically, should our domestic steel industry be expected to suffer injuries inflicted by unfair foreign traders seeking a share of the U.S. market through the use of predatory practices?

The VRAs are starting to have the effect of leveling the playing field and should be extended.

W.L. LATIMER

Palos Verdes Estates