More or less, it's a nice chunk of change

Dec 09, 2005 | 04:51 AM | Maria Guzzo

While the nation's steel and steel-related companies were again propitious recipients in 2005 of funding through the U.S. Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act, also known as the Byrd Amendment, more steel players received less.

A few did receive additional monies, though, with Timken Co., Canton, Ohio, again leading the nation. Timken received $81 million this year, up from $52.6 million in 2004, according to federal Customs and Border Protection data.

Overall, total disbursements under the program fell to $226.6 million in 2005 from $284.1 million last year, although sources said that doesn't necessarily mean dumped imports were down.

Alan H. Price, a trade attorney and partner at Wiley Rein & Fielding LLP, Washington, said there's no simple answer to delineate why Byrd disbursements, both in total and for individual companies, are up one year and down the next. "Import volumes have remained fairly high, but what I think you're dealing with is that Byrd money comes from entries from several years ago," said Price, who represents several long products trade organizations.....