Shale drilling across much of the United States has increased demand for steel pipe, which has benefited U.S. steel producers, but that picture is starting to change as foreign steel makers increasingly enjoy the payoff. An analysis by the Economic Policy Institute shows U.S. steel imports spiked 26 percent in the first three months of 2014. South Korea, China and India are flooding the U.S. market with steel tubes used in oil and gas production and selling them at below-market rates, a practice called “dumping.” United States Steel Corporation blames this trend for its idling of two mills in Texas and Pennsylvania this summer, and for a slow-down at its Ohio plant. “In the last three years, we’ve made upwards of $200 millionof investment to create a competitive advantage for Lorain,” says U.S. Steel spokeswoman Courtney Boone. “Unfortunately, because of the large quantity of unfairly traded tubular products and imports, the company’s not realizing the benefit.” The pro-union Economic
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