Short Range Outlook : January 2019
Is globalization of the world’s long steel products market now at an end? The global long steel products market is heading towards a more complicated and difficult period as the globalization of the steel business is being rewound amid a clash between liberal and protectionist trade policies that are somehow tied to political ups and downs between world leaders. It seems that global business will be relatively quiet as long as protective measures... Read More
Short Range Outlook : December 2018
Global long steel market facing many unknowns amid protectionism and price corrections There is huge uncertainty in the global long steel products market as there are a lot of unknowns against the backdrop of protectionist measures and price corrections. US-China ceasefire may reduce volatility in international market The trade dispute between the US and China has been kicked down the road for another 90 days. The ceasefire in the trade war between... Read More
Short Range Outlook : October 2018
Global long steel market still in equilibrium though regional differences observed The global long steel products market still seems to be in equilibrium in terms of supply and demand. However, the steel trade is becoming more and more regional and so different supply and demand situations may be observed in various regions. Accordingly, although the overall market is generally stable, there are fluctuations seen in certain regions. Sharp increase... Read More
US and South Korea sign new free trade deal, including quotas for US steel imports
According to news reports, the United States and South Korea signed a revised free-trade deal. The US-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS) reportedly addresses many trade issues faced by US exporters, mainly automotive producers. The new KORUS also limits steel and aluminum imports from South Korea. According to the agreement, the United States will impose a 10 percent tariff on aluminum imports. Steel, however, will be subject to a product-specific... Read More
IREPAS in Istanbul: All eyes on protectionist measures as IREPAS celebrates its 35th anniversary with record attendance
The 79th meeting of IREPAS (International Rebar Exporters and Producers Association) was held in Istanbul, Turkey on September 16-18, 2018. There were 139 producer representatives among the record 519 registered delegates from a total of 52 different countries. There were also 84 registrations representing 45 different raw material suppliers. At the opening of the conference which celebrated the 35th year of this bi-annual meeting, Murat Cebecioglu,... Read More
The program of the 79th meeting in Istanbul
Day 1: Sunday, September 16, 2018 19:00 – 22:00 Welcome cocktail at The Grand Tarabya Hotel Day 2: Monday, September 17, 2018 09:00 – 09:15 Welcome address by Chairman of IREPAS 09:15 – 10:15 SESSION ONE – Global economic outlook - The Future of The World Economy: The Eagle, The Tiger... Read More
US doubles the tariffs on Turkish steel imports
The US President Donald Trump tweeted on Friday August the 10th that he has just authorized to double tariffs on Turkish steel imports. His tweet reads: “I have just authorized a doubling of tariffs on steel and aluminum with respect to Turkey as their currency, the Turkish Lira, slides rapidly downward against our very strong dollar! Aluminum will now be 20 percent and steel 50 percent. Our relations with Turkey are not good at this time!” US... Read More
EU imposes provisional safeguard measures on 23 steel product categories
The European Commission has announced that it has decided to impose provisional safeguard measures on 23 steel product categories, including reinforcing bars, hot rolled products and steel pipes, in the form of a 25 percent out-of-quota tariff. The provisional measures will be applied for 200 calendar days beginning from July 19. The commission has preliminarily decided that the EU steel industry is in a situation of threat of serious injury for the... Read More
EU votes in favor of provisional safeguard measures
European Union voted on July 5th in favor of provisional measures against steel imports under the scope the safeguard investigation launched as a response to Section 232 tariffs in the US. The European Commission has proposed a combination of a quota and a tariff as expected. The quota will be based on import volumes over recent years and a 25 percent tariff will apply for the volumes exceeding that amount. Read More
US DOC issues first exclusions from Section 232 tariffs on steel imports
The US Department of Commerce (US DOC) has announced that its Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has begun granting its first product exclusions from the Section 232 tariffs on imports of steel. The US DOC stated that seven different US companies importing steel products from Japan, Sweden, Belgium, Germany and China have been excluded from the 25 percent additional duties on steel imports. The companies receiving the exclusions are as follows: Schick... Read More