Trade Cases
Trump Could Act on Automotive Tariffs This Week
Written by Tim Triplett
May 14, 2019
President Trump could decide this week whether to extend the Section 232 tariffs to imports of vehicles and auto parts. May 18 is the deadline for the president to act on the Commerce Department report submitted back in February. As with the steel industry, the administration has argued that a strong automotive industry is essential to the U.S. economy and thus national security.
Speaking at a press conference this week in Luxembourg, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said President Trump will make a decision by May 18 on what, if anything, he wishes to do with the recommendations in the Commerce report on the threat to the U.S. posed by automotive imports. “The reason autos are very important to our trade picture is because about half of our trade deficit comes from the single product automotive and the other half comes from the geographic area called China. In order to reduce our trade deficit, one of the big objectives of this administration, we need to deal with China as an entity and automotive as a product line,” Ross said.
The European Union is reportedly finalizing a list of American goods it will hit with retaliatory tariffs in the event Trump levies Section 232 tariffs on car imports from the EU.
The timing of the auto tariff deadline appears unfortunate as the administration is already in the midst of contentious trade negotiations with China, as well as stalled talks with Canada and Mexico over the new North American free trade agreement
Tim Triplett
Read more from Tim TriplettLatest in Trade Cases
Global steel forum sets 2026 framework deadline as US ups pressure on excess capacity
Global steelmakers sounded the alarm Friday over the deepening excess steelmaking capacity crisis. Ministers at the Global Forum on Steel Excess Capacity (GFSEC) in Gqeberha, South Africa, pledged to...
CRU: China’s indirect steel exports find new destination markets
The boom in China’s direct steel exports has not stopped this year, even with a rise in protectionist measures globally. The increase is driven by...
U.S. Steel sues Algoma over iron pellet shipments
U.S. Steel is suing Algoma over the Canadian flat-rolled producer's rejection of iron pellet shipments, arguing it has breached its contract.
US and Canada expect positive outcomes from tariff negotiations
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and US President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House on Tuesday that they’ll be formulating a trade deal that works for both nations.
Leibowitz: When the shutdown should end
There is no doubt that the current government shutdown reflects the vast divisions between the extremes of American politics, society, and even geography. Almost all Americans agree that government is necessary, but voters disagree...