U.S. Commerce Department Submits Car Tariff Report to President Trump

The South Korean government has responded to a US Department of Commerce report imposing tariffs on cars and auto parts exported to the United States. The Commerce Department submitted a report to President Donald Trump on February 17 in accordance with section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act 1962.

Details of the report have not yet been disclosed. The South Korean Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy is set to find out the details and hold a meeting on February 19 to discuss countermeasures. The US President is going to decide whether to implement the recommendation of the US Department of Commerce by May 18.

It is likely that the US government will use the report as leverage against China, Europe and Japan, which are in trade negotiations with themselves. The United States has already imposed tariffs on imported steel based on the same Section 232. Referring to threats to national security, the US government is likely to propose a 25 percent tariff on automobiles, an import quota, and various other measures to restrict imports.

“It took the US government a month and a half to write a report on its steel tariffs, and the US government used this report as leverage during the reporting period,” the Department of Commerce, Industry and Energy said, adding: “We are going to do our best with the first opportunity that the negative impact of the recent report on our industries can be minimized. "