The American Iron & Steel Institute's president and CEO, Thomas Gibson, is pleased with the US Supreme Court's decision not to hear the challenge by steel importers to the constitutionality of the Section 232 statute, thereby leaving in place the decisions of the lower courts.

“We are pleased that the US Supreme Court today rightly affirmed our strong belief, and the previous decisions of the Court of International Trade and Court of Appeals, that the challenge to the Section 232 statute is without merit."

According to Mr Gibson, "This lawsuit by steel importers was a weak attempt to mask the fact that surging foreign imports have severely impacted the domestic steel industry and threaten our national and economic security."

Gibson said that by not hearing further arguments in this case is 'acknowledgement once again that Congress acted within its constitutional authority when it authorised the president to take action to adjust imports that threaten to impair our national security'.

He said he was pleased that the highest court agreed with something the AISI had 'consistently maintained'.

The AISI, in conjunction with the Steel Manufacturers Association (SMA), had previously submitted two amicus curiae briefs in support of the constitutionality of the Section 232 statute.