Trade attorney and Steel Market Update contributor Lewis Leibowitz offers the following update on events in Washington: On Feb. 4, the Commerce Department published a new regulation expanding countervailing duty law. Commerce will now for the first time entertain claims by U.S. industry that government action to “undervalue” a currency in relation to the U.S. […]
A new regulation from the U.S. Department of Commerce allows currency manipulation by foreign governments to be considered a subsidy subject to countervailing duties. “This Currency Rule is an important step in ensuring that unfair trade practices are properly remedied,” said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. “While successive administrations have balked at countervailing foreign currency […]
Trade attorney and Steel Market Update contributor Lewis Leibowitz offers the following update on events in Washington: Friday’s vote in the Senate to end the impeachment trial of President Trump without calling witnesses or receiving additional evidence seals the fate of the impeachment effort. The Senate will hear closing arguments and debate the issues Monday […]
The U.S.-Mexico-Canada-Agreement was signed into law by President Trump on Wednesday. The signing clears the way for Canada to begin the ratification process that is likely to be concluded in March. The president called the agreement the “largest, fairest, most balanced, and modern trade agreement ever achieved.” “Everybody said this was a deal that could […]
Trade attorney and Steel Market Update contributor Lewis Leibowitz offers the following update on events in Washington: The presidential proclamation announcing new tariffs on “derivative” steel and aluminum articles was published in the Jan. 29 Federal Register (85 Fed. Reg. 5281). There are two Annexes that detail the products covered by the new tariffs: 1. “Aluminum […]
Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross says that tariffs on imports of autos and parts are still on the table, refuting claims that the deadline has passed to impose such measures under Section 232. After Commerce delivered its report on the national security implications of imports of foreign autos to the administration, the president had 180 days […]
The Department of Commerce announced the affirmative final determinations in the antidumping duty and countervailing duty investigations of imports of fabricated structural steel from Canada (AD only), China and Mexico, and a negative final determination in the CVD investigation of FSS from Canada. Canada and Mexico have been assigned antidumping rates of 6.7 percent and […]
Trade attorney and Steel Market Update contributor Lewis Leibowitz offers the following update on events in Washington: On Friday, President Trump issued another proclamation on steel and aluminum. This time, the proclamation imposes tariffs on selected “derivative” products made from steel and aluminum. I was reminded of the movie “The Monster that Devoured Cleveland,” which […]
U.S. manufacturers have requested a total of 93,933 exclusions from steel tariffs and 13,249 exclusions from aluminum tariffs since the Trump administration imposed Section 232 in 2018. To get an exemption, an applicant must make the case that the metal they require is not available domestically in a sufficient quality or quantity. While Commerce has […]
Looking back on 2019, it’s difficult to assess the success of Trump’s tariffs. A case for their effectiveness can be made either way. Judging by one measure, imports, it certainly appears the tariffs did their job. The American Iron and Steel Institute estimates that total steel imports declined by approximately 17.9 percent in 2019 to […]
Trade attorney and Steel Market Update contributor Lewis Leibowitz offers the following update on events in Washington: Challenges to the Section 232 steel tariffs are intensifying lately. The cases raise issues going to the heart of the Section 232 import restrictions. Here is a summary of the court cases to watch: AIIS—challenging the constitutionality of […]
The Senate voted its approval of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement in a sweeping 89-10 bipartisan vote on Thursday. The trade agreement now goes to President Trump for signature. The Canadian parliament is expected to follow suit, allowing the USMCA to be implemented later this year. The final agreement adds language addressing the internet, digital services and […]
In a concession to the Chinese as part of the phase one trade agreement signed Wednesday by President Trump and China’s Vice Premier Liu He, the U.S. will cut Section 301 duties on $120 billion in Chinese goods in half, from 15 percent to 7.5 percent, effective Feb. 14. China has agreed to increase its […]
The Alliance for American Manufacturing is more than a little skeptical that the China Phase One trade agreement will have value for American workers, calling it “completely inadequate” in a letter to President Trump. “The agreement does not level the playing field for American workers in the U.S. or global market,” wrote AAM President Scott […]
With a new trade deal in the works, the U.S. has declared that China is no longer a currency manipulator after labeling it one last summer. In August 2019, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, “under the auspices of President Trump,” determined that China was devaluating its currency to “gain an unfair competitive advantage in international trade.” […]
Trade attorney and Steel Market Update contributor Lewis Leibowitz offers the following update on events in Washington: We are now in the third year of the steel tariffs. On Jan. 11, 2018, the Department of Commerce transmitted its report and recommendations to President Trump. The president was waiting for the document, which gave him power […]
Following the recent attacks in Iran, President Trump has imposed new sanctions on Iran including targeting 13 Iranian steel and mining companies. Additionally, sanctions will be imposed on three Seychelles-based entities, aluminum and copper companies and the Liberian-flagged and Chinese-owned vessel Hong Xun, known to transport metal products. “We are also designating Iran’s largest metals […]
A recent study by the Federal Reserve concludes that the Trump administration tariffs are doing more harm than good to the U.S. economy and manufacturing. Federal economists Aaron Flaaen and Justin Pierce examined the impact the “unprecedented” number of tariffs imposed under the Trump administration have had on the U.S. manufacturing sector. Escalation of tariff […]
Trade attorney and Steel Market Update contributor Lewis Leibowitz offers the following update on events in Washington: Happy New Year to all. The president has imposed a host of import restrictions and sanctions since 2017. The list is extensive and the statutes under which he claims to be acting can be bewildering: Section 232, Section […]
By CRU Senior Cost Economist Ross Cunningham, from CRU’s Economic Outlook Political uncertainty equals big losses for Americas currencies. During the latter half of 2019, currencies in key South American economies have lost significant ground against the dollar. Since these economies depend on commodity exports for their growth, the negative effects of the trade war […]
Trade attorney and Steel Market Update contributor Lewis Leibowitz offers the following update on events in Washington: The House of Representatives voted on Thursday to approve the USMCA agreement by a large bipartisan majority, 385-41. The vote sends the implementing legislation to the Senate, which is also expected to approve the agreement. It is one […]
President Trump is walking back his decision to impose tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from Brazil. After accusing Brazil and Argentina earlier this month of currency manipulation that is harming U.S. farmers, and threatening immediate tariffs in retaliation, Trump now says he will not follow through on his threat. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said […]
Trade attorney and Steel Market Update contributor Lewis Leibowitz offers the following update on events in Washington: Last week was one of the most eventful for trade this year: USMCA Agreement Editor’s note: The House voted to pass the USMCA earlier today. The Senate is unlikely to vote on the measure before completion of the […]
Affirming that steel imports from Vietnam have been circumventing U.S. antidumping and countervailing duties, the Department of Commerce on Monday upheld its preliminary AD/CVD rates on imports of galvanized and cold rolled sheet from Vietnam manufactured with hot- or cold-rolled substrate from Korea and Taiwan. Steel products produced in Korea and Taiwan, shipped to Vietnam […]
By CRU Principal Economist Lisa Morrison On Dec. 13, U.S. Trade Representative, Robert Lighthizer, released a statement indicating that the U.S. and China had come to terms on a “phase 1” trade deal. The opening sentence of the USTR press release states, “The United States and China have reached an historic and enforceable agreement on […]
A new report by the World Trade Organization shows trade restrictions by WTO members are at historically high levels. Between mid-October 2018 and mid-October 2019, the trade coverage of import-restrictive measures implemented by members was estimated at $747 billion, an increase of 27 percent from the prior year and the highest level since October 2012. […]
The World Trade Organization is down to one appellate judge due to the efforts of the U.S. to undermine the organization. The effectiveness, and continued viability, of the WTO is now under question, say trade experts. The Trump administration has blocked all appointments to the seven member Appellate Body that rules on trade disputes among […]
The United States, Mexico and Canada have finally reached consensus on a new North American trade agreement. In an announcement on Tuesday, the office of U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said the USMCA “will support mutually beneficial trade leading to freer markets, fairer trade, and robust economic growth in North America.” Lighthizer and Canadian Deputy […]
Trade attorney and Steel Market Update contributor Lewis Leibowitz offers the following update on events in Washington: I have received questions from several people about the ins and outs of product exclusions. I thought I’d give a brief summary of the subject and the opportunities and the problems that may arise. Section 301 (China) Product […]
Editor’s note: President Trump’s surprise decision to impose 25 percent tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from Argentina and Brazil stunned the industry and leaves many questions unanswered. Paul Nathanson, executive director of the Coalition of American Metal Manufacturers and Users (CAMMU), addressed the issue in the following op-ed: President Trump announced via tweet on Monday that […]