AIIS urges Bush to lift import duties on steel

AIIS urges Bush to lift import duties on steel

The American Institute for International Steel (AIIS) called for US President George W. Bush to lift all import duties on steel products in order to reduce the reconstruction costs after Hurricane Katrina. AIIS indicated that reconstruction in the hurricane-affected regions will be costly since both the government and private companies have to pay antidumping or countervailing duties on steel products. "With so much investment at stake and the renewed competitiveness and profitability of the US steel industry, now is the time to eliminate these costly duties," said AIIS President Dave Phelps.