Short Range Outlook : June 2018
Global long steel market to see some stability in short term after Section 232 decision The global long steel products market is expected to see some stability in the short term after the US imposed tariffs on steel imports from June 1 on the European Union, Canada and México, which were all exempted from the tariffs during May. The Section 232 measures are now the same for the EU, Turkey, Canada and México, but the uncertainty in the market has... Read More
No deal: US puts tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from EU, Canada and Mexico
US commerce secretary Wilbur Ross has said that a 25 percent tariff on steel imports and a 10 percent tariff on aluminum imports from the EU, Canada and Mexico will go into effect at midnight, June 1. In March, the US imposed 25 percent duty on steel imports, while granting exemptions to the EU and some other countries until May 1, before later extending the deadline until June 1. Canada, Mexico, and the European Union have already vowed to retaliate... Read More
EU notifies WTO of potential counter-measures on certain US products
The World Trade Organization (WTO) has announced that the European Union (EU) has notified the WTO’s Council for Trade in Goods of its proposed suspension of concessions and other obligations that are substantially equivalent to the amount of trade affected by the measures imposed by the United States (US). Accordingly, the EU has stated that it reserves its right to take counter-measures against the US tariffs on steel and aluminum imports. According... Read More
IREPAS in Warsaw: Confusion and uncertainty in the global market
The 78th meeting of IREPAS (International Rebar Exporters and Producers Association) was held in Warsaw, Poland on May 6-8, 2018. There were 117 producer representatives among the 320 registered delegates from 48 different countries. There were also 62 registrations representing 40 different raw material suppliers. At the opening of the conference, Murat Cebecioglu, chairman of IREPAS emphasized that there is obvious confusion and uncertainty in the... Read More
Decision on Section 232 exemptions delayed until June 1
U.S. President Trump will reportedly delay the decision whether to impose steel and aluminum tariffs on countries currently exempted from the Section 232 tariffs until June 1. The administration is expected to finalize deals with the European Union, Canada and Mexico, while reaching “agreements in principle” with Australia, Argentina and Brazil. The details of those agreements will be finalized in the next 30 days. Read More
Short Range Outlook : April 2018
Confusion and uncertainty reign in global long products market There is obvious confusion and uncertainty in the global long steel products market triggered by the announcement of new tariffs on steel imports by President Trump as a result of the Section 232 investigation in the US, the subsequent exemptions from these tariffs, and the resulting safeguard investigation announced in the EU. Major exporters to the US – Canada, Mexico, Brazil,... Read More
Temporary exemptions to Section 232 tariffs will expire May 1
A report issued late Thursday by US Customs and Border Protection indicates that the temporary exclusions for US steel tariffs under Section 232 will expire as of May 1. Starting that day, all countries of origin will be subject to the 25 percent tariff on US steel imports. The tariffs are effective with respect to goods entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after March 23, 2018. Countries with temporary exclusions to the tariffs... Read More
US adds EU, Brazil, Argentina, Australia, and South Korea to temporary tariff exemption list
US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer announced that the European Union, Brazil, Argentina, Australia, and South Korea will be temporarily excluded from the 25 percent tariff on steel and 10 percent tariff on aluminum under the Section 232 which is set to go into effect for all other countries Friday, March 23. According to media reports, Lighthizer told the Senate Finance Committee that the Trump administration would base exemptions on “a... Read More
Trump signed proclamation authorizing 25 percent duty on imported steel
President Donald Trump signed a proclamation authorizing the tariffs on imported steel and aluminum, while excluding Canada and Mexico and leaving the door open to sparing other countries on the basis of national security. Accordingly the U.S. will levy a 25 percent duty on steel and 10 percent on aluminum, and the tariffs will take effect in 15 days. Trump’s authority to establish the tariffs stems from a Commerce Department investigation that... Read More
IREPAS statement on US DOC’s Section 232 recommendations
IREPAS is convinced that, if the United States imposes the import remedy options which have been recommended by the US Department of Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross following the conclusion of the Section 232 investigation into steel imports, American steel users will have to face much higher steel prices compared to the other parts of the world, which will certainly devastate many steel-using industries in the US. IREPAS affirms its belief that free... Read More