---
title: "Steel Manufacturers Association Warns on Imports"
id: "18896"
type: "post"
slug: "steel-manufacturers-association-warns-on-imports"
published_at: "2013-08-07T20:44:19+00:00"
modified_at: "2026-11-09T19:07:06+00:00"
url: "https://associationsnow.com/2013/08/07/steel-manufacturers-association-warns-on-imports/"
markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2013/08/07/steel-manufacturers-association-warns-on-imports.md"
excerpt: "With imports of steel threatening the domestic market, the Steel Manufacturers Association is asking for assistance from the U.S. government."
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  - "steel imports"
  - "trade policy"
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  - "Article"
taxonomy_role:
  - "Association CEO / Executive Director"
  - "C-Level"
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  - "For-Profit CEO / President / Owner / Partner"
taxonomy_persona:
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  - "Industry Professionals"
---

[Home](https://associationsnow.com/)
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 » Steel Manufacturers Association Warns on Imports

An iconic American industry is asking for a little help in stopping importers from eating too much into its market.

The [Steel Manufacturers Association (opens in a new tab)](http://www.steelnet.org/)
, which represents the interests of 36 North American steelmakers—around 75 percent of domestic output—has asked the top U.S. trade official to provide diplomatic help in limiting the amount of steel being imported from Europe.

More details:

**The problem:** The U.S. steel market is stronger at the moment than others, particularly in Europe. The Steel Manufacturers Association (SMA) says that this, along with European manufacturers failing to cut production even as oversupply issues become significant, has created an imbalance. Meanwhile, domestic steel is selling at a substantial premium compared to steel products from abroad. This has led to massive increases in imports (particularly in cut-to-length steel plates) from countries such as Germany, Poland, France, and Italy—the last of which saw a massive 4,655 percent increase in its exports to the U.S. between 2011 and 2012, according to SMA data.

**The reaction:** In a letter to the U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman [acquired by Reuters (opens in a new tab)](http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/08/02/steel-trade-usa-idUSL6N0G324E20130802)
, the SMA asked for Washington’s help curbing steel imports. “The European governments should be encouraged to take steps to curb their own excess steel capacity,” it wrote. “The United States cannot be the dumping ground for other countries’ excess supply.”

The SMA request comes in the wake of a similar initiative by steel pipe producers to work with the U.S. International Trade Commission to limit imports from nine different countries.

[Ernie Smith](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/)

Ernie Smith is a former senior editor for Associations Now.

[More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/)

Tags: [#Advocacy](https://associationsnow.com/tag/advocacy/)
 [#Business](https://associationsnow.com/tag/business/)
 [#steel imports](https://associationsnow.com/tag/steel-imports/)
 [#trade policy](https://associationsnow.com/tag/trade-policy/)

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