Other

• Para authorities bar Usipar from making pig iron Dec 18, 2007

  New Brazilian pig iron producer Usinagem e Parafusos Ltda. (Usipar) has been ordered to halt production by authorities in Para state after evidence reportedly was discovered that the company was violating Brazilian environmental laws.

• Reliance unit opens plant in China Dec 18, 2007

  Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co., Los Angeles, said Tuesday that its Valex Corp. subsidiary has opened a new facility in Shanghai, China, to produce equipment for the semiconductor, liquid-crystal display and solar industries.

• Nymex supports CFTC trading oversight reform Dec 17, 2007

  The New York Mercantile Exchange supports the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Reauthorization Act.

• Senate committee targeting global cap-and-trade rules Dec 17, 2007

  The Senate Finance Committee plans to hold a hearing—loosely slated for Dec. 20—to examine how to persuade foreign countries to adhere to the emissions standards proposed under the Lieberman-Warner cap-and-trade bill, a Capitol Hill source said.

• Nymex to increase trading fees in New Year Dec 17, 2007

  The New York Mercantile Exchange is raising fees for Nymex and Comex futures and options contracts effective Jan. 2.

• Senate finance committee OKs Padilla nomination Dec 14, 2007

  The Senate Finance Committee has unanimously approved the nomination of Christopher Padilla as undersecretary of Commerce for international trade.

• Senate approves stripped-down energy bill Dec 14, 2007

  Manufacturers celebrated the passage of an energy bill in the Senate late Thursday that left intact $21 billion in tax breaks for big energy companies.

• US, steel groups call for climate cooperation Dec 13, 2007

  The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) has welcomed a call from the global steel industry at a major climate conference in Bali, Indonesia, that a global sectoral approach is needed to address climate change.

• Democrats see Doha weakening trade remedies Dec 13, 2007

  The chorus of voices opposed to proposed rule changes in the Doha Round of world trade talks grew a little larger and more powerful Thursday.

• ArvinMeritor to buy Mascot Truck Parts Dec 13, 2007

  Automotive parts supplier ArvinMeritor Inc. has announced plans to acquire Mascot Truck Parts Ltd., Mississauga, Ontario.

• Infra-Metals set to spend $10M on new center Dec 11, 2007

  Carbon steel distributor Infra-Metals Co. plans to build a seventh service center.

• Move on trade legislation vs. China, English urges Rangel Dec 11, 2007

  Rep. Phil English (R., Pa.) on Tuesday urged House Ways and Means Committee chairman Charles Rangel (D., N.Y.) to act on trade legislation against China before Congress concludes the first session of the 110th Congress.

• Boeing expects to achieve stretched schedule for 787 Dec 11, 2007

  Boeing Co.’s new 787 Dreamliner isn’t due for another delivery stretch-out, the program’s top executives said Tuesday.

• Slow and steady wins freight race execs Dec 11, 2007

  Multimodal was a key term being used by company executives at AMM’s Moving Metals Conference in Atlanta.

• Change is happening in US, senators tell Bali delegates Dec 11, 2007

  Fifteen U.S. senators sent a letter to delegates at the United Nations-sponsored convention on climate change in Bali, Indonesia, urging participants to take encouragement from recent congressional actions on global warming.

• It’s easy to underestimate size, hardships of US-Canada trade Dec 11, 2007

  With just 30 million people, Canada might not seem like the biggest and best country to trade with when it comes to moving metals and related products.

• Top US officials travel to Beijing for series of three trade meetings Dec 10, 2007

  U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab and U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez are in Beijing for a series of meetings this week with top Chinese officials.

• Dana’s new board slate includes number of auto industry veterans Dec 10, 2007

  Auto parts maker Dana Corp. has announced a new slate of board members that includes auto industry heavyweights, along with luminaries such as former Democratic presidential candidate Richard Gephardt.

• Hogan to step down as Magna president Dec 07, 2007

  Mark T. Hogan, president of Magna International Inc., will leave the company Dec. 31 to “pursue other opportunities,” the Aurora, Ontario-based auto parts supplier said Friday.

• AISI raps cap-and-trade bill; China points West Dec 07, 2007

  The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) has “grave concerns” with the cap-and-trade emissions bill passed by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

• Paying back a scrap debt Dec 07, 2007

  A Syracuse, N.Y., foundry worker will have one less debt to pay 18 years from now. Connie Gardner, a 17-year employee of Wolff & Dungey Inc., faced jail time for allegedly swiping more than $71,000 in metal from his Syracuse employer, then selling it as scrap.

• Job outlook bleak for US manufacturing Dec 07, 2007

  Total employment in the United States is expected to increase at a slower rate over the next decade compared with the previous 10-year period, and employment in manufacturing is likely to decline by 1.5 million jobs, according to a recent forecast by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.

• Fuel costs steer trucking toward quality control Dec 07, 2007

  There are three big issues in the trucking industry these days “Fuel, fuel and fuel,” says Rob Winnick, executive vice president of business development at KTI Transportation Inc., a third-party logistics provider in Richfield, Minn.

• BestTransport taps Taylor to drive TMS work Dec 07, 2007

  BestTransport, Columbus, Ohio, has named Patrick Taylor as president and chief executive officer.