Supply Chain

• CAW reaches tentative labor deal with Ford Sep 18, 2012

  The Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) union has made some progress in its contract talks with Detroit’s Big Three automakers, reaching a tentative four-year labor deal with Ford Motor Co. as talks with General Motors of Canada Ltd. and Chrysler Group LLC continue.

• Japanese distributors warn of weakening demand Sep 18, 2012

  Japanese steel distributors have joined the growing number of voices warning of the likelihood that domestic steel demand will slow significantly in the fourth quarter.

• Rosenstiel to head O’Neal region Sep 18, 2012

  O’Neal Steel Inc. has tapped industry veteran David Rosenstiel to serve as operations manager for the company’s Southwest region.

• Main Steel set to shut NJ plant by year-end Sep 18, 2012

  Main Steel Polishing Co. Inc. plans to close its Union, N.J., facility by year-end as part of a larger effort to streamline operations, the company confirmed.

• Toll processor assets reopen with new owner Sep 17, 2012

  The assets of toll processor American Processing LLC in Cleveland have been bought by a new ownership group and reopened as American Metal Processing Co. LLC.

• GM tells suppliers to check for exposure to RG Sep 17, 2012

  General Motors Co. is telling parts suppliers to prepare for potential gaps in its supply chain in the wake of RG Steel LLC’s bankruptcy filing.

• Obama takes claims of China subsidies to WTO Sep 17, 2012

  The United States has accused China of providing unfair subsidies to exporters of autos and auto parts.

• OSHA orders Dana to pay fired employee Sep 17, 2012

  Dana Holding Corp. has been ordered by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to reinstate a fired financial analyst and to pay nearly $275,000 in back wages and benefits, compensatory damages and attorney’s fees.

• Obama nominates Kieff for ITC Sep 17, 2012

  President Obama has nominated F. Scott Kieff for the U.S. International Trade Commission.

• Commerce seeks scope ruling requests on magnesia brick Sep 17, 2012

  The Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration has submitted a scope ruling request for an anti-dumping order on magnesia carbon bricks from China and Mexico and a countervailing duty on the same product from China.

• Banker Steel acquires Foote to grow Southeast presence Sep 14, 2012

  Banker Steel Co. LLC has acquired Orlando, Fla.-based fabricator Foote Steel Co. as it looks to expand its presence in the Southeast.

• Still no deal between union, Big Three Sep 14, 2012

  Contract talks between the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) union and the Detroit-area Big Three have stalled as a strike deadline approaches Monday night, according to the union.

• NAM warns producers of trade issues, higher taxes Sep 14, 2012

  Trade issues and potential tax hikes are two areas where manufacturers should be increasingly wary in light of the upcoming presidential election.

• As western Canada booms, eastern provinces struggle Sep 14, 2012

  Canada has outperformed the United States since coming out of the 2009 recession, but while resource-rich western provinces are thriving, manufacturing-oriented eastern provinces in are struggling, according to one economist.

• Letter to the Editor: China’s retaliatory filing of trade cases causing harm Sep 14, 2012

  To the Editor: In late August, Chinese government-owned newspaper China Daily explicitly tied requests for anti-dumping and countervailing duty investigations into imports of wine from the European Union to the EU’s anti-dumping investigation of Chinese solar wafers, cells and panels. Why? According to China Daily, analysts described the cases as "Beijing’s latest response to the European Union’s rising trade protectionism against China."

• US manufacturers’ reshoring move to benefit steel: PwC Sep 14, 2012

  PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) expects increasing numbers of manufacturers to move production back to the United States as transportation and energy costs start to outweigh the benefits of cheaper labor abroad.

• ITA applies dumping margin vs. Tai Wa Hong Sep 14, 2012

  The Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration said that Tai Wa Hong failed to cooperate to the best of its ability in an administrative review of an anti-dumping duty order on imports of uncovered innerspring units from China from Feb. 1, 2011, to Jan. 31, 2012.

• Equity fund takes stake in PAC Stainless Sep 14, 2012

  Private equity fund Evergreen Pacific Partners has purchased a majority stake in stainless steel and specialty alloy instrumentation tubing and fittings distributor PAC Stainless Ltd.

• Ailing infrastructure should be a top priority: economist Sep 14, 2012

  The long-bedraggled U.S. construction sector might be showing signs of life, but more needs to be done about the nation’s crumbling infrastructure, according to one economist.

• Cliffs shuffles management lineup in strategic focus shift Sep 13, 2012

  Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. has made several appointments to its executive management team, all of which will take effect Oct. 1.

• Future bright for US economy post-2013 Sep 13, 2012

  If the U.S. economy can muddle through the next 12 to 18 months, it might be poised to enjoy a bull run for three to five years, according to one analyst.

• Mexican hot coil tags on rise since early 2012 Sep 13, 2012

  Hot-rolled coil prices in the Mexican distribution chain have been rising since the start of the year, following hikes implemented by local steelmakers, distribution sources told AMM sister publication Steel First.

• Talisman Energy taps Kvisle new leader as Manzoni exits Sep 13, 2012

  Talisman Energy Inc. has named Hal Kvisle as president and chief executive officer, replacing John A. Manzoni, who has stepped down from the posts effective immediately.

• Boeing to reduce titanium inventory overhang Sep 12, 2012

  Boeing Co.’s commercial aircraft titanium inventory remains too high, but the surplus should be worked off in about two years, a company executive said this week.