According to the Turkish daily Dunya, Adnan Aslan, the recently elected new chairman of the Turkish Steel Exporters’ Association (CIB), who is also a board member of Turkish steelmaker İÇDAŞ, has said that the CIB has hired the US-based law firm Arent Fox for the negotiations regarding the US 25 percent duty on steel imports under Section 232, adding that they will meet with the firm next week. He also stated that they had asked the Turkish Ministry of Economy to help with the expenses, though this request was denied. He added that the CIB has applied for the second time for help with the expenses, though stating that the association itself will pay for the law firm's services if this second request is also denied.
The CIB chairman said that the reason Turkey is able to export flat steel and steel pipe products to the US despite the Section 232 tariffs is the sharp increase in US domestic prices. Mr. Aslan also pointed out that the countries which were granted import quotas are about use up their quotas. He added that Turkey will likely export rebar to the US as well. “I am speaking on behalf of İÇDAŞ. Current antidumping duties add up to 34 percent and still rebar exports to the US seem possible," he commented.