Trade Cases

Section 337 Target Date Pushed to March 22, 2018
Written by Sandy Williams
September 1, 2016
A final decision on the section 337 case brought against China by US Steel has been delayed until March 2, 2018 from the current target date of Oct. 2, 2017.
Separate hearings have been scheduled for the allegations of theft of trade secrets and for the allegations of transshipment and price fixing.
The trade secret theft targets one company, Baosteel, for the cyber hacking and misappropriation of processes used in the manufacture of Advanced High Strength Steel (AHSS). USITC Administrative Law Judge Dee Lord determined that the case is distinct from the other allegations and there was no need for counsel representing other respondents to attend those proceedings. A separate hearing would also protect confidentiality of both US Steel and Baosteel.
Wrote Lord in her decision, “Having additional parties at the hearing and participating in discovery on these issues would increase risk of inadvertent disclosure.”
The first hearing, on the trade secret claim, will commence April 25 followed by a second hearing on price fixing and false designation on July 31. The final initial determination will be due on Thursday, November 1, 2017 and completion of the investigation by March 2, 2018.

Sandy Williams
Read more from Sandy WilliamsLatest in Trade Cases

Leibowitz: Tariffs are the trade version of going nuclear
In short, when tariffs go up, jobs in consuming industries go down. There is conclusive evidence from past actions: safeguard tariffs in 2002 and Section 232 tariffs in 2018. It is happening again in 2025. The Trump administration wants foreign producers (and US retailers) to absorb tariff increases (except in antidumping cases, where foreign absorption of tariffs is illegal).

Nippon exec responds after Trump ‘golden share’ comments: Report
A Nippon executive has hit back regarding the deal for USS following President Trump's talk of a "golden share" on Thursday.

US rebar producers seek import relief with new trade case
The four countries targeted for duties are currently the top offshore suppliers of rebar to the US market: Algeria, Bulgaria, Egypt, and Vietnam.

CRU Insight: A 50% S232 tariff will raise US steel prices and shift trade flows
This CRU Insight examines how the increase in Section 232 tariffs on steel to challenging levels will lead to significatively higher prices for end consumers in the US market.

Canacero hits out at new US steel tariffs
Mexican steel trade group Canacero has condemned the US’ actions of raising tariffs on steel and aluminum to 50% from 25%.