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- BUSINESS, Page 41Business NotesTRADEA Little Hand For Big Steel
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- How much protection do U.S. steel mills need from foreign
- competition? In answering that question last week, President
- Bush added to his reputation as the Great Compromiser. Instead
- of extending the soon-to-expire voluntary trade quotas another
- five years, as Big Steel wanted, or abolishing the restraints
- altogether, as the industry's customers desired, Bush split the
- difference. For the next 2 1/2 years, the U.S. will hold
- foreign imports to 18.4% of the domestic steel market. After
- 1992 the barrier will be dropped. In the meantime, Bush directed
- U.S. Trade Representative Carla Hills to try to negotiate an end
- to protective tariffs and subsidies around the world.
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- Big Steel argued for protection because it believed foreign
- plants were unfairly benefiting from subsidies. But the
- industry's customers complained that the restraints produce
- shortages and higher prices.
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