At the announcement by worldsteel of the short-range global steel demand outlook at the 51st annual meeting of worldsteel (World Steel Association) held in Brussels on October 16-17, John. J. Ferriola, worldsteel chairman and chairman, president and CEO of US steelmaker Nucor Corporation, responding to a question on the Section 232 investigation in the US, remarked that while there has been no further movement on the issue the investigation is due to be completed by a mid-January deadline and President Trump will then have a 90-day period to make his decision. Mr. Ferriola said that the industry in the US is still confident a comprehensive trade remedy will be applied, adding that he himself is concerned by the delay but confident action will be taken by Trump.
In addition, questioned about Trump’s planned infrastructure spending program, the worldsteel chairman said that he hopes that if the program passes it will have a major impact on steel consumption in the US next year, though adding that he is still cautious on the issue.