American Line Pipe Producers Association Commends President Trump's Call for Pipelines to Be Made in America

WASHINGTON, March 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Line Pipe Producers Association today announced its strong support for President Trump's memorandum promoting the use of American-made pipe and steel in building pipelines across the United States. The Association has millions of tons of U.S. capacity available to ramp up production, which would add thousands of well-paying jobs in line pipe and supporting industries.

Using American-made line pipe makes sense because these companies and other U.S. line pipe producers have substantial available production capacity and stand ready to meet demand. As a result, using American-made line pipe will not require new mills to be built or prevent pipeline companies from acquiring enough line pipe for their projects. It will also create good, well-paying jobs, both at the pipe mills and the many companies in the line pipe supply chain.

"We are strongly supportive of the President's announcement, and we are ready to go to work to make it happen," said John P. Stupp, Jr., CEO of Stupp Corp., which makes large-diameter line pipe in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. "Domestic manufacturing of steel pipeline will lead directly to more U.S. jobs and U.S. manufacturing."

"We are committed to working with the steel industry, the pipeline operators, and others to implement the Presidential Memo as intended: protecting and creating good paying jobs in the manufacturing sector while avoiding disruptions in the supply of line pipe." said Ingo Riemer, President & CEO of Berg Steel Pipe Corp., which manufactures line pipe in Florida and Alabama.

"It is important to remember that using American-made pipe does not just benefit our workers. It benefits the workers and communities of all of the companies in the supply chain to produce our line pipe. The positive ripple effects are significant," said Jason Norris, president of Dura-Bond Industries, which manufactures in two locations in Pennsylvania.

"We have already made substantial new investments in new equipment and in our workers, so we can meet the demand for American-made line pipe," said Mike O'Brien, vice president of sales for American Cast Iron Pipe Company (ACIPCO), parent of American Steel Pipe, which manufactures in Birmingham, Alabama. "We want to maximize the use of U.S. pipeline made from U.S. steel and raw materials."

The memorandum, announced on January 24, 2017, requires the Secretary of Commerce to develop a plan under which all new, retrofitted, repaired, or expanded pipeline within the United States use materials and equipment produced in the United States, to the maximum extent possible and to the extent permitted by law.  The U.S. Commerce Department is expected to seek public input and comment in the weeks ahead.

Imports of large-diameter line pipe, often using dumped and subsidized steel, have undercut the U.S. market in recent years, leaving most U.S. producers operating at well below their capacity levels. Stupp Corp., American Steel Pipe, Berg Pipe, and Dura-Bond formed the American Line Pipe Producers Association earlier this year, focused on the large-diameter segment of the market. Together, the four companies have more than 200 years of experience manufacturing line pipe in the United States and represent the vast majority of large diameter line pipe production and capacity in the United States.

The Washington, D.C.-based law firm of Wiley Rein LLP represents the American Line Pipe Producers Association on trade-related matters.

CONTACT:  Tim Brightbill
American Line Pipe Producers Assn.
202-719-3138 | [email protected]

SOURCE Wiley Rein LLP

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