Japan asks to abolish Section 232 duties on steel

Japanese Commerce Minister Koichi Hagiuda has asked the United States to exempt Japan from Section 232 duties on steel and aluminum imports, according to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (Meti). This happened after the recent signing of a trade agreement between the US and the EU.

As the government said last Sunday, US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo will visit Japan, Singapore and Malaysia from November 15 to reaffirm US commitment and strengthen economic ties with allies and key partners. US Trade Representative Catherine Tai will arrive in Tokyo on the same day.

The two US officials are expected to discuss with Japanese officials a possible revision of 25% of US tariffs on steel imports and 10% of tariffs on aluminum imports. These are the so-called section 232 tariffs imposed by the administration of former US President Donald Trump, Callanish notes.

Hagiuda says the measures are devastating and he asked the US to take action. The Japan Iron and Steel Federation announced on November 2 that a recent agreement between the US and the EU would lead to an all-encompassing relaxation of measures in the form of a bezel-less quota on EU steel. Japan's steel industry, which he notes is a US ally, will lag behind the EU in terms of US export competitiveness.