Manufacturers who rely on certain types of specialty steels, such as stainless steel, want to apply duty exemption to those types of imports. The federal government is not very lenient. Photo by Fong Lamai/Getty Images
The third United States tariff quota (TRQ) agreement, this time with the United Kingdom (UK), was supposed to please US metal consumers with the ability to purchase foreign steel and aluminum at no additional cost. import tariffs. But this new tariff quota, announced on March 22, was the same as the second tariff quota with Japan (excluding aluminum) in February and the first tariff quota with the European Union (EU) last December, only a success. they are concerned about mitigating supply chain problems.
The American Metal Producers and Consumers Union (CAMMU), recognizing that tariff quotas could help some US metal producers who continue to delay long deliveries and pay the world’s highest prices, complained: End these unnecessary trade restrictions on one of its closest allies countries, UK. As we saw in the US-EU Tariff Quota Agreement, quotas for some steel products were filled in the first two weeks of January. restricting and interfering with raw materials leads to market manipulation and allows the system to further disadvantage the smallest producers in the country.”
The tariff game also applies to the complex exclusion process, where domestic steelmakers unfairly block the issuance of tariff exemptions sought by manufacturers of U.S. food processing equipment, automobiles, household appliances and other products that suffer from high prices and supply chain disruptions. The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) of the US Department of Commerce is currently conducting its sixth review of the exclusion process.
“Like other U.S. steel and aluminum producers, NAFEM members continue to face high prices for key inputs, limited or, in some cases, denied supplies of key raw materials, worsening supply chain problems, and long delivery delays,” Charlie said. Suhrada. Vice President, Regulatory and Technical Affairs, North American Food Processing Equipment Association.
Donald Trump imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum in 2018 due to national security tariffs. But in the face of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and attempts by President Joe Biden’s administration to bolster US defense ties with the European Union, Japan and the UK, some political pundits are wondering if maintaining steel tariffs in those countries isn’t a bit counterintuitive.
CAMMU spokesman Paul Nathanson called the imposition of national security tariffs on the EU, UK and Japan “ridiculous” after the Russian attack.
Since June 1, US and UK tariff quotas have set steel imports in 54 product categories at 500,000 tons, distributed according to the 2018-2019 historical period. Annual aluminum production is 900 metric tons of raw aluminum in 2 product categories and 11,400 metric tons of semi-finished (wrought) aluminum in 12 product categories.
These tariff quota agreements continue to impose 25% tariffs on steel imports from the EU, UK and Japan and 10% tariffs on aluminum imports. The Commerce Department’s publication of tariff exemptions – more likely of late – is increasingly controversial given supply chain issues.
For example, Bobrick Washroom Equipment, which manufactures stainless steel dispensers, cabinets and rails in Jackson, Tennessee, Durant, Oklahoma, Clifton Park, New York, and Toronto, states: types and shapes for domestic stainless steel suppliers”. Bobrik said in a comment to BIS that suppliers are “manipulating domestic stainless supplies by closing plants and merging industries. offer and increase prices by more than 50%.
Magellan, a Deerfield, Illinois-based company that buys, sells and distributes specialty steels and other steel products, said: “It appears that domestic manufacturers can actually choose which importing companies to exclude, which is similar to the right to veto requests.” wants BIS to create a central database that includes details of specific past exemption requests so that importers do not have to collect this information themselves.
FABRICATOR is North America’s leading steel fabrication and forming magazine. The magazine publishes news, technical articles and success stories that enable manufacturers to do their job more efficiently. FABRICATOR has been in the industry since 1970.
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