Trade Cases
Switzerland Initiates WTO Dispute Regarding Tariffs
Written by Sandy Williams
July 10, 2018
Switzerland has added its name to the list of countries seeking World Trade Organization consultation with the United States regarding Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum products.
The Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) initiated a dispute settlement procedure with the WTO today, July 10. Although Switzerland does not have a large metal industry, the U.S. tariffs will affect about $80.5 million of steel exports to the U.S.
SECO said in its statement that “U.S. import measures targeted at protecting national security were unjustified.”
Switzerland is the eighth country to initiate a challenge to the U.S. under WTO rules. SECO hopes that a successful lawsuit against the U.S. in 2002 will be a precedent for a positive outcome against the Section 232 tariffs.
Sandy Williams
Read more from Sandy WilliamsLatest in Trade Cases
Price: Should billions in Section 232 revenue go to foreign manufacturers or to the American people?
Do we want the benefits of the Section 232 tariffs to flow to the bottom lines of foreign steel and aluminum producers or to the US government and, ultimately, domestic manufacturers and their workers? In our view, the answer is simple. Section 232 exceptions do nothing more than lead to underserved profits for foreign manufacturers who are harming the US industrial base. That revenue could be used to pursue the Trump administration’s other policy priorities - such as deficit reduction or expanded tax cuts.
Mills allege ‘critical circumstances’ in CORE trade case vs. South Africa, UAE
"Recent activity in the marketplace strongly indicates that these imports are being rushed into the United States in an effort to avoid the imposition of antidumping duties," petitioners said.
European Commission eyes retaliation vs. Trump steel tariffs: Report
The European Commission is looking into making current quotas on steel imports stricter as a countermeasure to President Trump’s recently announced tariffs on steel and aluminum imports to the US, according to an article in Reuters.
Trump could levy tariffs on auto imports in April: Report
President Donald Trump said last week that he could place tariffs on auto imports, according to an article in Politico.
Section 232 tariffs are headed downstream
The Trump administration has revealed the list of derivative steel products being added to the Section 232 tariff list.