Trade Cases
U.S. Pulls Aluminum Tariffs Prior to Canadian Retaliation
Written by Sandy Williams
September 14, 2020
The U.S. has reversed its position on imposing tariffs on Canadian aluminum imports. The U.S Trade Representative said in a statement on Sept. 15, “After consultations with the Canadian government, the United States has determined that trade in non-alloyed, unwrought aluminum is likely to normalize in the last four months of 2020, with imports declining sharply from the surges experienced earlier in the year.”
A 10 percent tariff was imposed by President Trump in August, but average monthly imports are now expected to decline 50 percent from the January through July monthly average.
Shipments are expected to be no greater than the following volumes for the remainder of the year:
The USTR reserved the right to impose 10 percent tariffs retroactively on any month that exceeds 105 percent of the expected volume. Any increase in volume is expected to be reduced by the corresponding amount in the following month. If imports should exceed 105 percent in any month, the U.S. may also re-impose the tariff going forward.
Canada was expected to reveal on Tuesday $3.6 billion in retaliatory countermeasures to the aluminum tariffs. Potential U.S. export targets included products such as aluminum beverage cans, tinfoil, appliances, staples and recreational items like bicycles and golf clubs.
Governors from New England urged the administration to drop the tariffs in a Sept. 8 letter, calling them “unnecessary and inappropriate.”
Vermont Gov. Phil Scott, New Hampshire’s Chris Sununu and Maine’s Janet Mills said in their letter, “New England and Canada build things together. About half of all trade with Canada takes place between our related companies.
“We strongly believe that this stance regarding Canadian aluminum will only hurt American manufacturers. The tariffs will make products from an F-35 jet to a washing machine to a can of beer more expensive, thus making the value chain weaker and negatively impacting our economy.”
Sandy Williams
Read more from Sandy WilliamsLatest in Trade Cases
Leibowitz on Trade: The New World Orders
The question of the new world order was on many minds last week when I spoke on another SMU Community Chat. The short answer is that nobody knows in detail what the effects of all the economic and geopolitical developments will be.
Canadian agency launches OCTG import probe
Canada has launched an investigation into the alleged dumping of imports of oil country tubular goods (OCTG) by five countries – Korea, the Philippines, Turkey, Mexico, and the United States.
US and China delay reciprocal tariffs, Section 232 tariffs stand
US President Donald Trump extended the US and China’s 90-day pause on planned reciprocal tariffs on Monday.
Price on Trade: 40% Brazil tariffs, Section 232 copper program, and misplaced carbon claims
The administration continues to negotiate deals with US trading partners, and the reciprocal tariff program appears poised for further modification. This week, we focus on other important developments that may have received less media attention.
Leibowitz on trade: Trump’s reciprocal tariffs face mounting legal challenges
The tariffs amount to a wholesale transformation of US trade policy from one promoting increasing international interaction to one of restricting trade to serve national strategic goals.