Turkish steel exporters question Commerce’s decision

The Turkish Steel Exporters’ Association has asked the U.S. Commerce Department to “consider all of the facts” in its recent proposal to impose countervailing duties.    The Turkish Steel Exporters’ Association has asked the U.S. Commerce Department to “consider all of the facts” in its recent proposal to place countervailing duties on imports of steel pipe used in oil and gas pipelines. 
   One key element in Commerce’s decision is the claim that Erdemir Group, one of Turkey’s largest steel companies, is a government-controlled entity and has been providing steel coils at subsidized prices to Turkish pipe manufacturers based on suspect pricing data obtained from other countries. The Turkish Steel Exporter’s Association called this claim untrue, noting Erdemir was privatized 10 years ago. 
   “The Turkish government exercises no control or governmental functions in its business,” the association said. “However, because Erdemir has a major shareholder which is a military pension fund of Turkey, it has been designated a government entity and therefore cannot ‘trade fairly.’”
   In December 2014, the Canada Border Services Agency ended its countervailing duty investigation on oil country tubular goods (OCTG) pipes from Turkey, after it found Erdemir operates as a profit-driven steel company, responsible to its public shareholders.
   “[Turkey’s steel manufacturers] produce high quality products, and deliver these products all around the world at competitive prices with its advanced logistics infrastructure – shipping steel products to more than 180 countries, including the United States,” said Matt Nolan, spokesperson for the Turkish Steel Exporter’s Association, in a statement. “We ask the commission and the commissioners to consider the facts and act in the best interest of fair trade – which will ultimately benefit the American public.”