Big Steel begins charging EC makers with dumping

Major US steel companies Monday began filing massive formal complaints charging foreign producers with shipping steel to America at unfairly low prices.

But the antidumping lawsuits filed against European Community steel companies could lead to a wave of protectionism, an EC spokesman said.

The spokesman, Industry Commissioner Etienne Davignon, said the suits were unjustified and came at a critical time for the depressed world steel industry. Asked if the US decision could lead to a snowballing of protectionist sentiment, Mr. Davignon replied: ''Yes.''