Trade Cases
Freeland: No Timeline for U.S. Removal of Section 232
Written by Tim Triplett
October 23, 2018
Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland says it would be in the best interest of both Canada and the United States to lift tariffs the countries now impose on each other, but she offered no timeline on when that might occur.
Responding to a press question yesterday on the prospects that the U.S. Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum might be lifted soon, Freeland reiterated Canada’s view of the tariffs. “We believe these measures to be unjustified and illegal, and that is why we are challenging them at the WTO…. That is why Canada imposed July 1 a measured dollar-for-dollar retaliatory response.
“We also think that it is overwhelmingly in the best interest of both Canada and the United States for these reciprocal tariffs to be lifted,” she added. “It is certainly reasonable to think that with…the agreement in principal around the new trade deal, that positive momentum should bring Canada and the United States to simply say it is time to lift these tariffs.” But she did not speculate on when that might happen.
Tim Triplett
Read more from Tim TriplettLatest in Trade Cases
Fitch warns more tariffs will pressure global commodity markets
“New commodity-specific tariffs, mainly on steel and aluminum products, could widen price differentials and divert trade flows,” the credit agency forewarned.
Commerce increases import duties on Korean galv, plate
The Commerce Department is raising the import duties on imports of corrosion-resistant sheet and cut-to-length plate from Korea.
Leibowitz on trade: Why is protectionism so popular?
The world has had a few shocks recently. The CEO of a major health insurance company was gunned down in Manhattan. The 50-year Assad dynasty in Syria was pushed out less than two weeks after rebels started an offensive. And President-elect Trump is promising tariffs on everything a month before he takes office. But one shock has been taking place for a lot longer than the last few weeks. The 70-year consensus on trade hasn’t just been challenged. It’s been repudiated.
Ternium chief say Mexico tariffs ‘irrational’
Vedoya said the proposed tariffs are "an irrational measure that would harm both their own industry and ours."
Price on Trade: Trump tariffs are no negotiating tool – and could come at lightning speed
We focused on trade actions the second Trump administration might take in a prior column. Since then, we have learned more about the individuals who will be leading these efforts. Recent nominations reinforce the president-elect’s statements that tariffs will feature prominently in the second administration and that trade actions will be unveiled at lightning speed.