Australia content with granted US product exemptions
Australian steel maker OneSteel filed 4 product exclusion requests for its special DuraGal products that are; channels, angles, square sections and rectangular sections and has been granted related exclusions under the framework of the second round exclusions by the US Trade Representative. BHP Steel's US customer Steel Scape has also been granted an exemption of 35'000 mts hot rolled flat steel products. It is believed in Australia that these exclusions are obtained due to Australia's trade relationship with the US, and particularly the free trade agreement negotiations initiated towards the end of last year. Having received these exemptions Australian producers OneStel and BHP Steel will be able to export higher tonnages into the US. In the year 2002, total Australian exports into the US amounts to 678'000 tons.