Trade Cases

Section 232 to be Lifted From Ukrainian Steel on June 1: White House
Written by Michael Cowden
May 31, 2022
The US will lift Section 232 tariffs from Ukrainian steel imports on Wednesday, June 1, at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time, the White House said.
The waiver from the national security duties will remain in place until at least 11:59 pm Eastern on June 1, 2023.
“In light of the ongoing security discussions and significant disruption of Ukraine’s ability to produce steel, I conclude that Ukraine’s present situation presents a special case,” President Biden said in a proclamation adjusting the duties and dated Friday, May 27.
“I have determined to suspend the tariffs … for the import of steel articles and derivative steel articles from Ukraine for one year,” he said.
Biden’s proclamation comes after the Commerce Department announced on May 9 that the Biden administration would lift Section 232 from Ukraine.
President Biden said that the move was justified because Ukraine and the US have developed “a close security relationship,” because of the Russian Federation’s “unconscionable war” against Ukraine, and because maintaining the Ukrainian steel industry will provide an “economic lifeline” as the country recovers from the war.
Biden noted that Ukraine had expressed its willingness to work with the US to combat global excess steelmaking capacity. The president also said that the move shouldn’t disrupt the domestic steel industry because imports from Ukraine accounted for less than 1% of total steel imports to the US in 2021.
Section 232 tariffs were rolled out by the Trump administration in 2018. They have been kept in place by the Biden administration, although tariff-rate quota (TRQ) agreements to ease them have since been negotiated with the European Union, Japan and the United Kingdom.
By Michael Cowden, Michael@SteelMarketUpdate.com

Michael Cowden
Read more from Michael CowdenLatest in Trade Cases

Nippon eyeing new $4B U.S. Steel mill to sweeten deal: Report
Nippon Steel could build a new domestic U.S. Steel mill with a total investment of $4 billion.

Price: One-off deal for the UK, pause in China trade war, and more
International trade remains at the forefront of President Trump’s agenda, especially as new negotiations and investigations continue to be announced.

Three Italian CTL plate companies get AD duties, two removed
Commerce began a review of five producers/exporters: NLMK Verona; Officine Technosider; F.A.R. Fonderie Acciaierie; Ferriera Valsider and Metinvest Trametal.

Commerce lays out final results for CVD review on certain Korean CR products
The period under review is Jan. 1, 2022, through Dec. 31, 2022.

Commerce gives final CVD results on certain Korean CORE products
The US Commerce Department has provided the final results for the countervailing administrative review of certain corrosion-resistant steel products (CORE) from South Korea.