Trade Cases
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Leibowitz on Trade: Update on Section 232 on Automotive
Written by Tim Triplett
July 19, 2018
Lewis Leibowitz, trade attorney and contributor to Steel Market Update, offers the following commentary on the latest developments in Washington:
Today, the Commerce Department is conducting a hearing on the self-initiated Section 232 investigation into imports of autos and auto parts. The U.S. auto industry is uniformly opposed to tariffs on autos and auto parts. However, the president seems to be in favor of them. Yesterday, the president threatened “tremendous retribution” if auto and auto parts trade is not balanced more in favor of the U.S. Some critics of the tariffs have referred to today’s hearing as a “show trial.” There are reports that the president has asked for a Commerce decision before the November mid-term elections.
Perspective
In addition to automotive, the national security statute is being invoked for a fourth time (this time on uranium imports into the U.S.) because it is the easiest statute for the president to invoke without congressional approval. Congress is taking steps to require congressional approval of import remedies. Last week, a non-binding Senate resolution called on the president to consult with Congress before imposing import remedies that would hurt American industries and consumers who rely on imports.
This may be the last national security investigation for a while—but that is not clear by any means. Combined with the Section 301 actions on China, the imposition of tariffs and quotas on imports we have become used to may become a thing of the past. There may be more such investigations into other allegedly unfair acts and practices by U.S. trading partners. The aim appears to drive trading partners to negotiate trade deals more to the administration’s liking. Failing that (and there is little evidence that our trading partners are ready to negotiate), the tariffs could ultimately remake global supply chains.
Lewis Leibowitz
The Law Office of Lewis E. Leibowitz
1400 16th Street, N.W.
Suite 350
Washington, D.C. 20036
Phone: (202) 776-1142
Fax: (202) 861-2924
Cell: (202) 250-1551
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Tim Triplett
Read more from Tim TriplettLatest in Trade Cases
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Leibowitz: The consequences of a new barrage of trade cases on coated steel
Domestic steel producers and the United Steelworkers (USW) union filed a barrage of trade cases last week. This is hardly news. Ever since the Commerce Department ruled that Vietnam is still treated as a nonmarket economy (NME) for antidumping purposes, many in the business expected new cases on the product that Vietnam excels at—“corrosion-resistant steel.” Nor is it a surprise that these cases roped in nine countries in addition to Vietnam: Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, the Netherlands, South Africa, Taiwan, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates. All these countries rank in the top ten exporters of corrosion-resistant steel to the United States. These petitions are a broadside against coated flat-rolled steel imports.
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Coated trade case alleges hefty dumping margins
Domestic mills have alleged substantial dumping margins in the trade case targeting imports of corrosion-resistant steel.
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US mills file sprawling trade case against coated imports from 10 nations
US mills have filed or soon will file a sprawling trade petition against imports of coated flat-rolled steel from 10 countries. The petition seeks anti-dumping margins against Canada, Mexico, Brazil, the Netherlands, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, Taiwan, Australia, and South Africa. It also seeks countervailing duty margins against Canada, Mexico, Brazil, and Vietnam. That’s according documents dated Sept. 5 and addressed to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and International Trade Commission (ITC) Secretary Lisa Barton.
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Steel Summit 2024: Trade issues abound ahead of election
Trade is always front and center in an election year. And 2024 is no different. There is no shortage of issues, with questions like the sale of U.S. Steel to Japan’s Nippon Steel, potential cracks in the USMCA, and Chinese overcapacity dominating the headlines. But how do you distinguish between issues that might just last until November, and what are the crucial questions that could affect your business for years to come?
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US senators urge reduction to S. Korean OCTG quota
https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/sherrod-brown-casey-fetterman-biden-administration-level-playing-field-american-octg-industry