Buying American has always been a proud trademark of the local region. But Duferco Farrell Corp said that could result in its demise.

Duferco already has lost one local customer because of the concept Wheatland Tube Co. Due to the “buy American’’ provision in the USD 787 million national stimulus package, Wheatland Tube acknowledged Friday the company can’t buy steel from the Farrell steelmaker which is just several hundred yards from its local offices. The provision is being interpreted that steel used for public projects must be melted in the US.

Mr Bill Kerins president of Wheatland Tube said that his pipe and tube company had little choice in dropping Duferco a few weeks ago. He said that “We’re prepared to do business with Duferco Farrell when they’re able to be in compliance with the buy American provision and we hope they’re able to work that out. The reason we have to follow the buy American provision is that more and more of our customers are requiring us to do that. This requirement just isn’t under the stimulus package, but under other federal and state guidelines that 100 percent of the steel used in projects must be made and melted in the United States.’’

Mr Kerins said that has a requirement that steel used in certain government projects must be entirely melted in the US. He added Wheatland Tube has met all of its contractual purchase obligations with Duferco.

Wheatland Tube supports the buy American provision, Mr Kerins said that because it provides opportunities for American workers. He said that “We also support Duferco Farrell and we have been a longtime customer of theirs and hope to continue to be a longtime customer of theirs. They provide a quality product.”

Duferco’s Farrell plant buys slabs which it said are generally not available in the US overseas and then rolls them into coils.

(Sourced from sharonherald.com)