The Turkish Steel Producers Association (TCUD) has issued the following statement regarding the US Department of Commerce's Section 232 recommendations: “Instead of taking measures against overcapacity in the global steel industry and dumped exports that disrupt global trade, resorting to blanket import restrictions will result in Turkish steel producers facing an obstacle they do not deserve.”
The TCUD also said that, if these recommendations come into force, they will result in diversions in steel trade, regional accumulation and an increase in unfair trade, and then it will be inevitable for other countries to apply protective measures in return. This kind of import restriction will be against World Trade Organizations rules, the TCUD affirmed.
According to the TCUD, in 2017 Turkey’s scrap trade deficit with the US was around $300 million and its steel exports to the US including steel pipes declined by 22 percent. The TCUD said that, given that the trade between the two countries has been deteriorating to the detriment of Turkey, a further obstacle will likely have a devastating outcome for Turkish steel exports.