At the annual State of Steel hearing in the US Congress, senior US steel executives called for stronger trade enforcement measures amid persistent global overcapacity.
Barry Schneider, President and COO of Steel Dynamics and Chairman of the Steel Manufacturers Association (SMA), said the US steel industry remains on a solid footing, supported by domestic manufacturing policies and tax reforms.
However, he warned that global steel overcapacity—particularly linked to China—along with high interest rates and permitting challenges, continues to pose risks to competitiveness.
Calls for Section 232 Enforcement
Schneider emphasized the need for strict enforcement of Section 232 tariffs, cautioning that any relaxation could lead to a surge in dumped or subsidized imports, undermining US producers.
USMCA Concerns
He also highlighted vulnerabilities in the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), pointing to delays in implementing melt-and-pour rules, which have allowed non-market steel to enter North America.
Schneider called for:
-
Stricter rules of origin
-
Immediate enforcement of melt-and-pour requirements
-
Tighter controls on investment from non-market economies
Legislative and Infrastructure Priorities
He urged lawmakers to advance the Leveling the Playing Field 2.0 Act and maintain strong federal infrastructure spending, backed by Build America, Buy America provisions, to support domestic steel demand.
Echoing these views, Ben Pickett, Executive Vice President of Nucor, stressed the steel industry’s role in job creation, economic stability, and national security, reinforcing broad industry support for a tougher trade stance.
VietnamSteel by Hoa Sen Group
