Final Thoughts

Final Thoughts
Written by John Packard
February 7, 2018
We are working on an article about what companies are doing with the tax windfall they will be receiving this year. We have noticed a couple of companies like Mill Steel that are giving their employees a bonus check. We would like to include your company in our article should you be doing something special for your employees (raises, bonuses, etc.). Please send any comments, press releases to: Tim@SteelMarketUpdate.com.
We have a few spots left in our March 28-29 Steel 101: Introduction to Steel Making & Market Fundamentals workshop, which will be held just outside of Chicago in Merrillville, Ind. Included will be a tour of the NLMK Portage steel mill. Details can be found on our website: www.SteelMarketUpdate.com/events/steel101.
The Department of Commerce submitted the Section 232 report and recommendations on steel on Jan. 11. By my calculations, we are 28 days into the 90 days that President Trump has to make his announcement.
Here are some of my travel plans over the next couple of months. If you would like to meet with me during the Port of Tampa Conference or the FMA Annual Meeting, please shoot me an email at John@SteelMarketUpdate.com.
I will be at the Port of Tampa Steel Conference on Feb. 19-21.
I will be at the FMA Annual Meeting in Scottsdale, Ariz., at the end of March.
As always, your business is truly appreciated by all of us here at Steel Market Update.
John Packard, Publisher

John Packard
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I’m not sure how many different ways I can write that it’s been a quiet market ahead of Independence Day. There are variations on that theme. I’ve heard everything from the ominous “eerily quiet” to "getting better" and even the occasional “blissfully unaware” (because I’m enjoying my vacation).

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Maybe some of this uncertainty will get ironed out ahead of Liberation Day tariffs resetting higher rates on July 9. But if I had to place a wager, it would be on more drama and last-minute brinksmanship - whether it comes to the Liberation Day tariffs or the various Section 232s that are in the works.

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