Calls to Ease Steel and Aluminum Tariffs Amid COVID-19 Crisis

Despite calls for tariff abolition, the White House continues to deny any intent to change section 232 tariffs.

In the United States, metal industry organizations resumed debate this week over the application of section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum, after the US Customs and Border Protection announced via the Cargo Messaging Service on March 20 that it would consider deferring payment of anticipated import duties and taxes. response to the economic severity caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Aluminum Association said Friday in an email to its members that it “continues to advocate the abolition of section 232 aluminum tariffs for all market economies” in response to a CBP statement that prompted speculation that the Trump administration might relax tariff rules.

Likewise, on Wednesday, the Coalition of American Metal Producers and Users demanded that the Trump administration immediately lift the Section 232 steel and aluminum tariffs in order to help American manufacturers facing economic pressure from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Many steel and aluminum producers use parts for medical device manufacturing and other critical sectors, and the US government should do whatever it can to help them instead of unnecessarily taxing their tariff transactions,” CAMMU said. statement.

CAMMU added that the tariffs, originally imposed by the Trump administration in March 2018, had hurt U.S. steel and aluminum producers and consumers even before the pandemic began.

Earlier this month, Alcoa spokesman Jim Beck reaffirmed the company's position on the 10% section 232 aluminum tariff.

“We do not believe that tariffs are a solution to the problems of the aluminum industry,” Beck said. "The main common problem is the Chinese overcapacity, and we talked about this many times, even when 232 came out."