Government is considering to withdraw the export duty on steel that it had notified on May 10, after a request towards this end has come from the steel ministry. Steel secretary RS Pandey said the demand of the steel producers on rolling back the export duty is under consideration and a decision is expected soon. He said inter-ministerial consultations are on regarding this issue. Steel manufacturers have expressed their unhappiness over government's decision to notify the export duty on steel. Steel producers have cut prices by up to Rs 4,000 per tonne after a meeting with PM Manmohan Singh. The steel manufacturers, ruling out any rollback of price cut, said after four months the situation would be reviewed and the price cut would be withdrawn if the export duty is not removed. However, a senior official in the finance ministry, which is instrumental in imposing the export duty, said the domestic production is less than the demand of the commodity. Therefore, there is hardly any surplus for export after meeting this demand. Considering this, he argued that imposition of the export duty would not affect steel manufacturers. But, steel makers said the country has overcapacity in cold rolled coils and other flat products. But, in the long products, the production capacity is less than the demand. Therefore, the domestic industry should be allowed to export flat products after meeting domestic demand. This will also help them in subsidizing domestic sale at lower price as global price is higher. The government will hold a meeting with secondary steel producers on Wednesday to discuss various issues with them, including prices. INDUSTRY CAN GET SOME RELIEF