Vladislav Tetyukhin, director general of Avisma, says that the company does not even have spare titanium to export for U.S. military needs.
Photo: Dmitry Lekay
| Other Photos |
 |
|
 |
Another Russian Exporter Forced Out of the U.S. Market
The United States has launched a campaign to push Russia’s VSMPO-Avisma out from the U.S. titanium market. American titanium producers, TIMET, Allegheny Technologies Inc. (ATI) and RTI International have spoken against the Senate’s proposal to lift curbs on the export of components for military needs from abroad. VSMPO-Avisma fears that this scandal may be followed by an anti-dumping probe against it.
The Washington Post has published an article, signed by the heads of U.S. titanium companies - Allegheny Technologies, RTI International and TIMET. The executives lashed out at the U.S. Senate which has recently endorsed additions to the Berry Amendment which bans the U.S. Defense Ministry from buying goods from foreign companies. The addition to the amendment allows Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grunman and some other companies not to report the supplier of small parts such as screw-nuts and bolts.
The U.S. titanium produces accused the Senate of giving away U.S. military titanium production to Russia’s VSMPO-Avisma which can potentially export titanium bolts and nuts. The American companies believe that this possibility may endanger the national security. The heads of Allegheny Technologies, RTI International and TIMET claim that with information about all small components the Kremlin will be able to gather information on new U.S. armaments.
In fact, the addition to the Berry Amendment will not give any particular privilege to Avisma. Vladislav Tetyukhin, director general of Avisma, says that the company does not even have spare titanium to export for U.S. military needs. The Russian company supposes that the actions of the three U.S. companies are aimed to disrupt its reputation on the civil titanium market where Avisma controls 20 to 35 percent. Americans may also resort to anti-dumping investigations as a tool of influence, Avisma says.
Apparently, the three American companies are trying to use the recent strain in the U.S.-American relations. Earlier, the U.S. Department of State imposed two-year sanctions on Rosoboronexport and Sukhoi, which was largely viewed as a political move.
Maria Cherkasova and Dmitry Sidorov
All the Article in Russian as of Aug. 09, 2006
|
|
|
