Metal Sawing Expo News: U.S. Pipe Manufacturer Uses State Law to Block Product Imports

U.S. pipe manufacturer Zekelman Industries has used state-level legal action to restrict the use of Mexican steel pipes in Pennsylvania's public project market. Metal Sawing Expo learned that a federal court ruling in Pennsylvania permanently bans the use of Mexican-made steel pipes in public infrastructure projects in the state.

Zekelman Industries President Mitch McNamara stated that the move is aimed at addressing Mexican pipe manufacturers reclassifying their products to circumvent USMCA provisions.

Company CEO Barry Zekelman said that pipe products are very important to the company’s business. He expects that Pennsylvania may consume several thousand tons of pipe annually. The ruling's impact goes beyond mere inventory shifts, McNamara noted. Distributors, for the sake of inventory management efficiency and to meet government contract requirements, will prioritize U.S.-made materials. This shift in purchasing behavior could bring substantial market share to domestic U.S. producers.

Regarding whether this approach might be applied in other states, McNamara said it depends on whether relevant policies are in place in those states and whether the company is considered a 'corporate citizen' there. Currently, the company is cooperating with the current administration and has not filed new lawsuits in other states.

Metal Sawing Expo believes the case demonstrates a strategy where U.S. manufacturers use state-level legal tools to protect the domestic market outside the framework of federal trade agreements. The permanent nature of the ruling and its direct impact on certain product supply chains has drawn industry attention.

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