Source: GMATPrep

The imposition of quotas limiting imported steel will not help the big American steel mills. In fact, the quotas will help "mini-mills" flourish in the United States. Those small domestic mills will take more business from the big American steel mills than would have been taken by the foreign steel mills in the absence of quotas.

Which of the following, if true, would cast the most serious doubt on the claim made in the last sentence above?

A) Quality rather than price is a major factor in determining the type of steel to be used for a particular application

B) Foreign steel mills have long produced grades of steel comparable in quality to the steel produced by the big American mills

C) American quotas on imported goods have often induced other countries to impose similar quotas on American goods.

D) Domestic "mini-mills" consistently produce better grades of steel than do the big American mills

E) Domestic "mini-mills" produce low-volume specialized types of steel that are not produced by the big American steel mills

I stumbled on this question. Can someone explain the ans?

Do we need to weaken the below claim?
Those small domestic mills will take more business from the big American steel mills than would have been taken by the foreign steel mills in the absence of quotas

the question itself is confusing ,,,
But somehow I will go for E.

If we have to weaken the approach then i think C it is.

the question hinges on understanding the conclusion in full - small US mills will take business from US big mills.

make a slash chart it makes life so much easier.

you will see that choice a b and c are not really pertaining to the arguement and especially the conclusion (last sentence).

D - is strengthening the arguement

Vuala you have E. E explains that US small mills cant take from US big mills because they are producing a different type of steel.

qa please. I am going with E.

well played.