Trade Cases
U.S. Must Get 'More Creative,' Trade Nominee Tells Senate
Written by Sandy Williams
August 4, 2017
Gilbert Kaplan, nominee for undersecretary for international trade at the Department of Commerce, was questioned today by the Senate Finance Committee on how he will approach trade issues for the nation. As undersecretary, Kaplan would be responsible for promoting U.S. trade and enforcing trade laws.
Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) pressed Kaplan on whether he supported a quick resolution to the Section 232 investigation to end import surges that have occurred from the ensuing uncertainty about the case.
“Yes, absolutely. I think it is very important,” said Kaplan, and suggested that the U.S must get more “creative” in pursuing trade cases and “turn the pressure on even more to get this resolved.”
Kaplan proposed the more frequent use of self-initiated Section 301 actions to address unfair trade practices and steel overcapacity, as well as utilizing the the World Trade Organization to bring trade cases against China and others.
On the subject of reciprocal market access with China, Kaplan said, “I think we should be able to have complete access [to Chinese markets] and not be subject to any caps or limits.”
Kaplan, a Harvard law graduate, has a long background in trade, working for the Commerce Department as a director of investigations in 1983 and later as deputy assistant secretary for the import administration handling steel trade. He also served as acting assistant secretary for import administration. After the Reagan years, Kaplan worked as an attorney in international trade and as a lobbyist for corporations such as Bethlehem Steel. In 2007, while at law firm King and Spalding, he represented Zekelman Steel and others in a successful anti-subsidy case against imports of Chinese steel standard pipe.
(Source material: World Trade Online)
Sandy Williams
Read more from Sandy WilliamsLatest in Trade Cases
Tariff fallout: Canada strikes back, Stellantis idles, GM boosts production
Canada imposes auto tariffs, while automaker Stellantis temporarily idles some plants.
Commerce tags UAE with ‘critical circumstances’ in CORE trade case, South Africa spared
The Commerce Department has made a preliminary determination that ‘critical circumstances’ exist for certain imports of corrosion-resistant (CORE) flat-rolled steel from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Commerce decided that critical circumstances did not apply to CORE from South Africa. The department also found that critical circumstances did not apply to CORE from UAE producers Al-Ghurair Iron & Steel LLC and United Iron & Steel Company LLC.
Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ brings 10% baseline tariffs; steel, aluminum, and autos/parts excluded
President Trump’s promised “Liberation Day” has arrived, with a 10% minimum tariff on imports. But there are some very important exceptions: The United States’ USMCA partners, Canada and Mexico, are excluded from the reciprocal tariffs for now. In addition, steel, aluminum, as well as autos and auto parts are excluded from the reciprocal tariffs. That’s […]
Price on Trade: Auto tariffs, auto parts, and Hyundai – a world of rapid changes
Trump's new auto tariffs will apply to passenger vehicles (including sedans, sport utility vehicles, crossover utility vehicles, minivans, and cargo vans), light trucks, and certain automobile parts (including engines and engine parts, transmissions and powertrain parts, and electrical components).
CRU: Canacero urges Mexico-US partnership to fend off Asian steel imports
Victor Cairo, head of Mexico’s steel sector body Canacero and CEO of ArcelorMittal Mexico, says he is confident negotiations between the Mexican and US governments planned for April 2 will lead to the creation of a regional block to substitute imports, especially from Asia.