Purisima calls for talks between NSC, downstream steel players

Trade and Industry Secretary Cesar V. Purisima is calling for a dialogue between the National Steel Corp. (NSC), now known as Global Steelworks International Inc. (GSII), and downstream steel industry players to discuss the request of NSC/GSII for tariff protection.

NSC/GSII is petitioning for tariff protection ranging from 15 percent to 35 percent for its products comprised of steel billets, cold and hot-rolled coil and tin plates.

Purisima is scheduling the meeting for next week to be able to act expeditiously on NSC/GSII’s request for tariff protection.

Purisima stressed that he still has no position on the tariff request and is specifically asking for the meeting to determine NSC’s needs and the concerns of downstream steel industry players.

NSC/GSII wants tariff protection to enable it to recover while it starts up manufacturing operations.

On the other hand, downstream steel industry players argue that they would be adversely affected by a rise in tariff rates especially since NSC does not have the capacity to provide the needs of the local downstream industry players.

Even in the past, the downstream steel industry players said, NSC was never able to be competitive even with tariff protection and only penalized the local downstream steel industry players through higher prices.