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    USTR Publishes NAFTA Objectives; Meets Continued Resistance

    Written by Sandy Williams


    The office of the U.S. Trade Representative has finally updated its summary of NAFTA objectives in response to pressure from the Senate Finance Committee to provide transparency regarding the negotiations.

    Ron Wyden (D-OR) put the confirmation of two deputy USTR nominees on hold until the updated objectives were made public. Wyden said the summaries are “critical to provide a window into the process so that the public — and their representatives in Congress — can provide relevant input into the talks.” He added that the American public should not have to rely on media reports to “know what the government is purportedly seeking on its behalf.” The confirmations will move forward, but hearings on the nominations are not expected to be scheduled until the tax reform legislation is settled.

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    Steel groups address Democrat gains in midterms

    The Steel Manufacturers Association (SMA) and the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) have weighed in on yesterday’s midterm elections that saw Democrats gain control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives. “Last night's elections delivered historic gains for Democrats in Congress,” SMA EVP Brandon Farris said in a statement to SMU on Wednesday. “Thankfully, a strong American steel industry transcends party lines." He said SMA's mission remains clear. It includes defending “the policies that have helped drive historic investment, strengthen American manufacturing, secure reliable and affordable energy, and ensure domestic steelmakers can compete on a level playing field.”

    Price on trade: Steel industry trick-or-treat

    It’s the scariest time of year in Washington, D.C. … election season. The city is a veritable haunted house of prognostication and speculation as everyone tries to discern which way the howling wind will blow. We’ll let the fortune tellers and prediction markets guess the outcomes of the midterms. What we do know is this: the steel industry has experienced its share of tricks and treats over the past few months. Below are a few notable steel tricks and treats this Halloween season.

    Leibowitz: The dilemmas facing primary aluminum and BOF steel

    Earlier this month, retired General David Petraeus, whose resume is as impressive as any I’ve seen, held a fireside chat at the National Press Club with Century Aluminum CEO Jesse Gary and Mark Duffy, the president and CEO of the American Primary Aluminum Association. During that widely reported chat, retired Gen. Petraeus stated that the US was not militarily ready for a conflict. Because the event concentrated on aluminum, and primary aluminum at that, his remarks hit harder than I think the full facts warrant.

    Canada, Ontario commit billions to steel and automotive industries

    The Canadian federal government and the Ontario provincial government have announced five-year commitments totaling CA$5.22 billion (US$3.72 billion) for a Joint Steel Action Fund. That funding comes alongside up to an additional CA$2.5 billion over two years for large-scale automotive capital projects. The federal and provincial governments said the package is intended to support domestic steel production, automotive manufacturing, and the transition to connected and electric vehicles.