US steelworkers protest Mr. Bush decision on Chinese pipes

US steelworkers protest Mr. Bush decision on Chinese pipes

Several steelworkers expressed their disappointment regarding President Bush's decision to allow free import of Chinese steel pipe, raising a banner, "Make Steel, Not War". Steve Kramer, president of USW Local 9777 at Allied Pipe and Tube in Harvey, said Bush's refusal to place quotas on overseas pipe imports has put steelworkers at risk. "We have had a reduction in hours, reduction in shifts and some reduction in people," he said. Steelworkers complain Chinese steel pipe imports have increased from 10,000 tons in 2002 to 380,000 tons in 2005 since Chinese pipes are sold in the local US market at prices below normal values. As reported by SteelOrbis, on December 30, 2005, President Bush rejected calls for a quota on Chinese imports of standard steel tubing, indicated that even if he imposed the sanctions on Chinese tube importers, the U.S. would not really benefit because other exporting countries would take China's place in the market.