Chicago steel pipe plant to close, sues Mexico over imports

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The Wheatland Tube steel pipe plant on Chicago's South Side will close, laying off 230 workers.

Parent company Zekelman, the largest independent steel pipe and tube manufacturer in North America, said that imports are behind its decision to shutter the plant at 4435 S. Western Blvd. in the Brighton Park neighborhood on Chicago's southwest side. It closed its tube manufacturing facility in Long Beach, California in 2022.

The Chicago-based company, which is headquartered in the Loop, claims unfair trade from Mexico has resulted in the loss of 400 jobs.

The steel pipe and tube company filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia accusing Mexico of dumping steel in the United States, violating trade agreements and threatening national security by weakening the domestic steel industry.

Zekelman also filed petitions with the U.S. Office of Homeland Security and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It's urging the federal government to enforce trade agreements with Mexico and is asking the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania to rule that Mexico is violating the Pennsylvania Trade Practices Act.

A recent Coalition for a Prosperous America report found that Mexican steel conduit exports to the United States are up 472% over the historic baseline, and that Mexican producers are on pace to ship more than three times as much corrosion-resistant steel to the United States this year. Steel imports from Mexico rose 72% over the historical average in 2022.

“Mexico is violating trade agreements, and the Biden Administration is failing to enforce these rules. The American steel industry is being damaged and American workers are paying a price,” said Barry Zekelman, the company's executive chairman and CEO.

Zekelman said Mexican steel is often subsidized since the Mexican government is the majority shareholder in some of the county's largest steelmakers. Members of the Congressional Steel Caucus have been seeking to restore 25% tariffs on Mexico.

Zekelman said much of the steel Mexico is sending to the United States is the result of Mexican imports from China and India, which could include rerouted Chinese and Indian steel whose actual country of origin is being masked to duck tariffs.

A look back at Region businesses that closed in 2023

Beer Geeks, one of the Region's first, most beloved and most influential craft beer bars, closed after more than a decade and is being reimagined as a new concept.

The landmark 88-year-old castle-shaped White Castle in Whiting is coming down to be replaced with a newer, larger, more modern White Castle restaurant.

A longtime staple in downtown Crown Point poured its last drink.

The longtime Westforth Sports gun shop is closing.

The Silver Line Building Products plant at 16801 Exchange Ave. will be shuttered permanently.

Brewfest in Highland will close in what's been called "an end of an era."

David's Bridal filed for bankruptcy and could close all stores if no buyer emerges to save it.

The 88-year-old Whiting White Castle will be remembered with displays at museums in two different states.

For years, the "millionaire's club" met every morning in the corner booth of the historic 88-year-old White Castle at Indianapolis Boulevard and 119th Street in downtown Whiting. The landmark restaurant served its final slider Tuesday.

One of Northwest Indiana's most popular and enduring hobby shops is looking for a buyer after the longtime owner died.

J&L This N That Consignment Shop, a popular thrift store, closed in downtown Whiting after a run of several years.

A Calumet Region institution, Calumet Fisheries on the far South Side of Chicago, is temporarily closed after failing a city health inspection.

Just days after reopening after city health inspectors shut it down, Calumet Fisheries suffered a major fire.

Pepe's Mexican Restaurant is no mas in Valparaiso.

Beer Geeks in Highland rebranded as B-Side Bar & Lounge and then closed within a few months.

Troubled retailer Bed Bath and Beyond will permanently close its Valparaiso location as it shutters more stores nationwide as it looks to restructure and shrink its footprint to save the struggling business.

Peoples Bank has shuttered its branch in downtown Hammond.

Viking Artisan Ales will soon pour its last craft beer at its Merrillville taproom.

Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom is closing after 15 years at one of Northwest Indiana's most prominent highway interchanges.

Walmart is closing its big-box store in Homewood.

The Chicago Auto Show, the nation's largest auto show, returns to McCormick Place Saturday, running through Feb. 19.

Munster-based Land O'Frost, the packaged lunchmeat giant, is laying off 215 workers in Chicago and shuttering a plant it acquired two years ago.

Ginuwine will trot out hits like "Pony" at Festival of the Lakes.

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Video provided in partnership with The Times, JEDtv and WJOB. Sponsored by Strack & Van Til.