Execs See Import Duties as Key to Rebound
Business Journal Daily – WARREN, Ohio – The presidents of two local manufacturers say the U.S. International Trade Commission’s ruling to impose tariffs on steel pipe and tube is the start of an industrial comeback for the United States in the world market.
“The pipe and tube industry will start to see good-paying, standard-of-living jobs coming back to where they belong,” said Bill Kerins, president of Wheatland Tube, which operates plants in western Pennsylvania, Chicago and Warren.
Roger Lindgren, president of V&M Star’s North American operations in Youngstown and Houston, joined Kerins at a press event at Wheatland Tube’s plant here Thursday, along with U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, D-17 Ohio, Ohio Department of Development Director Lisa Patt-McDaniel, and George Irving of Local 9306 of the United Steelworkers of America.
V&M is contemplating a massive, $970 million investment to expand its tube operations — possibly in Youngstown. While Lindgren offered no hints on whether the company would move forward with the project, he agreed with Kerins that the ITC ruling is vital to American manufacturing.
