US steelmakers are calling for clearer smelting and casting rules under the USMCA

Amid negotiations to revise the USMCA, the US steel sector is calling for stricter smelting and casting rules that would more clearly define North American-produced steel. Kevin Dempsey, president of the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), spoke about this in an interview with Platts during an industry forum.

According to him, under the current agreement, slabs imported and rolled on the continent are considered North American.

US steelmakers are also insisting on stricter requirements regarding the proportion of North American and US raw materials for the automotive and other manufacturing sectors. As Dempsey noted, the US is seeking to establish a general requirement for North American steel content of approximately 75–80 per cent, with at least 50 per cent to be sourced from the United States.

Previously, the US steel industry had expressed a desire for Canada and Mexico to adopt trade policies similar to those of the US, in particular a 50 per cent tariff on steel imports.

According to Dempsey, the US, Canada and Mexico are unlikely to reach an agreement by 1 July — the deadline for the review of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). However, the AISI president expressed optimism that this would happen between the end of this year and mid-2027.

It should be recalled that the Steel Manufacturers of America (SMA) and the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) have expressed serious concern over the growing global surplus of steel production capacity. The organisations warn that the trade policies of China and Brazil are undermining fair competition and threatening US national security.