The premier trade association representing North American steel producers recently asked the New York Metropolitan Transit Authority to reconsider their decision to allow an expected 15,000 tonne of steel plate made in China to be used in the upper deck replacement project for the Verrazano Narrows Bridge.

Mr Thomas J Gibson President and CEO of the American Iron and Steel Institute said that “At a time when our nation remains in a recovery from high unemployment and economic recession, we cannot afford to ship American manufacturing jobs overseas. Sourcing 15,000 tonne of steel from China for repairs on the Verrazano to Narrows Bridge is particularly offensive as the vast majority of Chinese steel companies are government owned and controlled, and heavily subsidized.”

Mr Gibson said that “In addition, the Chinese government deliberately engages in unfair trading practices like currency manipulation to give Chinese exports an unfair competitive advantage. We urge you to reconsider the decision.”

He said that a recent Wall Street Journal article entitled US Icons Now Made of Chinese Steel, indicating that the Chinese trade association representatives tout their competitiveness against the North American industry.

He added that “The taxpayers of New York, and the many American tourists who cross the Verrazano Bridge, should not be forced to have their toll dollars go toward improving the economy of China when American manufacturing needs their support.”