Final Thoughts
Final Thoughts
Written by John Packard
April 3, 2019
President Trump gave the Mexican government one year for them to stop the migration of immigrants, most from Central and South American countries, as well as illegal drug smuggling into the United States. The stick he is waving is not closing the border (which would decimate the U.S. economy), but instead threatening tariffs on automobiles from Mexico. A couple of thoughts on that one. First, I anticipate that the USMCA (NAFTA 2.0) trade agreement will be signed and in place one year from today. There must be language in the USMCA that would prevent one party from blocking automobiles or parts from crossing from Mexico into the United States or Canada. Second, the threat of using tariffs against Mexican auto production has got to be frightening to just about everyone in the supply chain, including the domestic steel mills.
We will have lots to discuss at our upcoming SMU Steel Summit Conference…
Our Steel 101 article about steel nomenclature has created a lot of discussion on social media and directly with SMU. This is an issue that I think many distributors and manufacturers are grappling with daily. The lack of understanding is costing companies business, either in sales or purchasing, and is creating errors that shouldn’t have happened. This afternoon I was speaking with Sandy Simon, who is joining our Steel 101 team as an instructor, and we were discussing the nomenclature used for indexing contracts. Does everyone know what a “slip quarter” is? Our Steel 101 workshop does discuss indexing contracts as well as the steel making process. We have plenty of room in our Davenport, Iowa, workshop on May 14 & 15. Attendees will get to tour the SSAB Iowa steel mill. They will get a 100+ page workbook that I know is prized as I have been asked for copies of the book twice in the past few days (we only give it to attendees). The workbook does have a glossary of terms used in the industry.
For more information about the May Steel 101: Introduction to Steel Making & Market Fundamentals Workshop, go to: www.SteelMarketUpdate.com/Events/Steel101 If you have any questions, please contact me at 772-245-8630 or Brett at 770-299-9897.
There are lots of events and webinars that existing and potential Steel Market Update customers have access to. We have an article in tonight’s newsletter about a CRU Webinar, which you can register for free of charge. The CRU Group is also hosting a free Steel Briefing in New York City on Monday, June 17. If you need help registering or have questions, contact us at info@SteelMarketUpdate.com
CRU is also conducting an Aluminum Market Update Conference on Aug. 28-29 at the Atlanta Airport Marriott Gateway Hotel (next to the GICC convention center where the SMU Steel Summit is held). If you would like to learn more about the Aluminum Summit, please click here.
I think we are down to one sponsor spot at this year’s conference, and I think we have three exhibition spots still open. There are companies working with Jill Waldman on acquiring those spots, but they are not sold until the P.O. has been placed. For more details contact Jill@SteelMarketUpdate.com
Sorry for so many advertisements this evening. There is a lot being offered to our SMU member companies. If you have questions about becoming a subscriber, or expanding your existing membership level (we have some incredible deals right now), contact Paige Mayhair at Paige@SteelMarketUpdate.com or by phone at 724-720-1012.
As always, your business is truly appreciated by all of us here at Steel Market Update.
John Packard, President & CEO
John Packard
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