U.S. Producers Seek Tariff on Steel Product

Leading U.S. steel producers broadened their fight against low-priced imports, asking the federal government to impose punitive tariffs on a high-grade steel product. The U.S. industry targeted cold-rolled flat carbon steel from Japan, Russia, and 10 other countries. In the third major round of trade complaints since imports reached record levels last year, the companies blame the import surge for thousands of layoffs. The latest complaints came despite reductions in imports by roughly 40% since November. U.S. producers say foreign countries continue to flout U.S. trade laws that prohibit unfair pricing practices. The filings with the Commerce Department and the U.S. International Trade Commission seek steel tariffs to in effect raise prices of foreign shipments. The targeted countries are Argentina, Brazil, China, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Africa, Slovakia, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey and Venezuela.