 |
||
   |
 |
For Immediate Release WEIRTON, W.VA. – Weirton Steel Corp. today reported that 2002 could be the fourth highest year on record for steel imports. Statistics released today by the federal government revealed a 13 percent increase in all steel imports from August to September. In September, 3.1 million net tons of foreign steel entered the U.S. compared to 2.7 million net tons in August. The September tonnage is the second highest monthly total this year behind the 3.3 million tons imported in February. When annualizing steel imports through September, this year would end with 31.8 million tons, the fourth highest annual tonnage in history. "President Bush's tariffs covered a significant amount of steel imports, but not all of them. The program, combined with the more than 700 tariff exclusions granted by the government this year, is keeping import levels higher than we desire. In addition, some countries are finding ways of escaping the tariffs by shipping through other countries not covered by the tariffs," said John H. Walker, Weirton Steel president and chief executive officer. "Despite the import levels, the situation would be far worse had the president not imposed the tariffs. We will continue to push the administration to keep the tariffs in place at their designated amounts during the scheduled three-year period." Weirton Steel is the seventh largest U.S. integrated steel producer.
|
