Steel and Aluminum Products:
232 Duties, Exemptions, and Exclusion Order
On March 1, 2018, President Trump announced that section 232 duties would be levied on imported steel and aluminum imports. These are global in nature with exceptions taken for Canada and Mexico.
Presidential Proclamation on Adjusting Imports of Steel into the United States
Presidential Proclamation on Adjusting Imports of Aluminum into the United States
The implementation of such duties was delayed due to country by country negotiations exemptions, but will now go forward as of June 1, 2018. (Only Brazil, Argentina and S. Korea reached exemption agreements on the basis of quota restraints).
Tariff Exemption Requests
On March 17, BIS issued its interim rule for companies wishing to seek exemptions from the Order. The linked presentation provides further information on the exemption process.
March 2019 Update:
DOC has received more than 45,000+ requests for steel exclusions and more 6,000+ exclusion requests for aluminum products. Approximately 20,000 decisions on steel to date have been issued (approximately 75% of these have been approvals). Approximately 3,000 decisions on aluminum products have been issued (approximately 80% of these have been approvals).
These exclusions are retroactive to the date the request was submitted, meaning that importers can obtain refunds of tariffs paid on excluded products. Companies wishing assistance in the process should feel free to contact the firm.
CURATED NEWS :
February 21, 2019: Senator Grassly quoted for the proposition that neither Mexico nor Canada will ratify USMCA if section 232 tariffs are in place.
February 7, 2019: Study of section 232 exclusion requests published.
November 21. 2018: Am. Shipper article on NAMCA details hopes for removal of section 232 tariffs re: Canada and Mexico.
November 13, 2018: CBP: 232 exclusion entry filing guidance: CSMS #18-000671
August 14, 2018: Forbes: Trump is Losing his Trade War
August 9, 2018: GOP chairman calls on Trump administration to explain tariff exclusions
June 13, 2018: American Metal Coalition published summary of worldwide retaliatory tariffs against Section 232 duties.
May 31, 2018: POTUS Proclaimations on Steel and Aluminum products. (Since no permanent agreements were reached with Canada, Mexico and the EU, and there was no further exemption, the section 201 duties on steel and Aluminum will end on June 1.) Argentina, Australia, Brazil and S. Korea imports will be subject to certain exemptions (only Argentina negotiated exemptions from both steel and Aluminum).
May 31, 2018: Canada and the EU published retaliation lists. Canada's retaliation list. Comments can be filed as to the Canadian list (due June 15th). Two EU retaliation lists exist.
May 31, 2018: China cuts tariffs on 1,449 categories of goods from most favored nations will be reduced by an overall average of about 60 percent. China also announced a new negative list will be published by June 30 possibly reducing investment barriers.
May 31, 2018: CBP: CSMS #18-000372: Additional Duty on Imports of Steel and Aluminum Articles under Section 232. (Note: when Section 301 duties go into effect, certain products may be subject to both Section 232 and Section 301 duties.)
May 31, 2018: ITC issues Version: 2018 HTSA Revision 5 (includes provisions related to 232 quota and duties.)
May 30, 2018: Canada: "Totally unacceptable"
May 29, 2018: POTUS: White House Statement: Section 301 tariffs to be finalized, despite US-China discussions. China MOFOCOM's response ("both surprised and unsurprised").
May 24, 2018: Commerce: announcement of the self-initiates a Section 232 investigation on the national security impact of auto importations.
May 21, 2018: CBP: CSMS #18-000352: Submitting Imports of Products Excluded from Duties on Imports of Steel or Aluminum
May 19, 2018: United States and China: Joint Statement Regarding Trade Consultations
May 19, 2018: CBP: CSMS #18-000349: Draft ES CATAIR Posted in Support of Tariff Rate Adjustments and Section 232 Exclusions
April 30, 2018: At the last moment, Trump extends AL and Steel exclusions for allies.
April 30, 2018: CSMS #18-000316: Quota announcement on S. Korean Steel Mills.
April 18, 2018: Sens. Wyden & Hatch level a pointed critique of the 232 exemption process.
April 12, 2018: ITC ends 337 investigation without exclusions on China steel companies (U.S. Steel didn't push for exclusions).
April 6, 2018: POTUS: Statement on China Trade War: directing USTR to look at additional tariffs and to plan for the protection of US industry (farmers).
April 6, 2018: CIT denies Severstal attempt to block sec 232 duties.
April 5, 2018: Reuters: China tariffs to go into effect Monday.
April 5, 2018: Reuters: China tariffs in response to sec. 232 tariffs to go into effect Monday.
April 5, 2018: CBP: CSMS #18-000258: Update: Section 232 and Immediate Transportation Entries
March 28, 2018: Severstal files suit to enjoin steel tariffs as unconstitutional; briefings due April 10.
March 27, 2017: Canada announces measures to avoid transshipment of metal products. (in keeping with its obligations under its exclusion from 232 duties)
March 22, 2018: CSMS #18-000240: Customs' Implementation of Sec. 232 Duties
March 22, 2018: China: Sec. 232 Retaliation List
March 21, 2018: Commerce: Announcement of Ross meeting with EU foreshadows a potential EU exemption. Discussions ongoing South Korea, Australia, Argentina. Brazil to join discussions.
March 21, 2018, Nakachi overview of the Steel/Al exemption process.
March 21, 2018: ITC: Decision to terminate 377 price fixing investigation on steel.
March 17, 2018: BIS: NPRN on Exclusion process for Steel and Aluminum products from section 232 duties.
March 2, 2018: Client Advisory: Gazing into the Crystal Ball for Steel & AL.
NPR: Article: U.S. Plan For Steel And Aluminum Tariffs Prompts Global Backlash
March 1, 2018: POTUS announces section 232 duties will be imposed 25% for steel products, and 10% for Aluminum products.