EU extends steel safeguard measures for another three years
The European Commission has announced the extension of the EU’s safeguard measures encompassing 26 steel product categories for another three years until June 30, 2024, preserving traditional trade flows on a per-product-category basis. The Commission has also increased the quota volumes by three percent, and a 25 percent tariff duty will be applied on the products if the tariff rate quotas are exceeded. There will be a review to determine whether... Read More
The US has reinstated tariffs on all steel imports from Brazil and Argentina
The US has reinstated tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports from Brazil and Argentina with immediate effect, on currency issues, US President Donald Trump tweeted earlier today. The Trump administration imposed a blanket 25% tariff on all steel imports, and of 10% on all aluminum imports, in March 2018 under Section 232 legislation,. Later in June 2018, the restrictions on Brazil and Argentinian steel and aluminum were converted to a quota system.... Read More
US not to impose punitive tariffs against imported products from Mexico
The Trump administration announced they would not be moving forward with punitive tariffs against imported products from Mexico. Presdient Trump had previously announced the US would be imposing a five percent tariff on all goods imported from Mexico, including steel, adding that the tariff would be increased up to 25 percent by October if Mexico did not take action to “dramatically reduce or eliminate” the number of illegal aliens crossing its... Read More
US reduces tariffs on Turkey to 25 percent
The White House has announced that the 50 percent duty on Turkish steel imports has been halved to 25 percent as of May 17. In a statement, the administration said that since the implementation of the higher tariff, steel imports from Turkey declined 48 percent in 2018, “with the result that the domestic industry’s capacity utilization has improved at this point to approximately the target level recommended” in the initial DOC report... Read More
Turkey increased import duty on rebar imports from non WTO member countries
According to Turkey’s Official Gazette published on April 17, Turkey has increased the 10 percent import duty on rebar to 30 percent for countries which are not members of the World Trade Organization (WTO). Iran stands out as one of the non-WTO countries whose rebar exports to Turkey have increased lately. Towards the end of last year, Iran started to be seen as a threat to the Turkish rebar market. Other non-WTO countries are Iraq, Syria, Azerbaijan,... Read More
IREPAS in Barcelona : Protectionism, raw materials and Turkey top the agenda
The 80th meeting of IREPAS (International Rebar Exporters and Producers Association) was held in Barcelona, Spain on April 7-9, 2019. There were 132 producer representatives among the 416 registered delegates from a total of 48 different countries. There were also 70 registrations representing 40 different raw material suppliers. At the opening of the conference Murat Cebecioglu, chairman of IREPAS, said that IREPAS firmly believes in, has supported... Read More
Mexico to renew 15 percent import tariff
Mexico’s ministry of economy announced yesterday that it will renew a provisional 15 percent tariff against imports of several steel products from countries with which the nation does not have existing trade agreements. The tariff will last for six months, and apply to imports of slab, CRC, HRC, heavy plate and wire rod. The tariff previously expired on Jan. 31, 2019. Read More
EU votes in favor of provisional safeguard measures
European Union voted on July 5th in favor of provisional measures against steel imports under the scope the safeguard investigation launched as a response to Section 232 tariffs in the US. The European Commission has proposed a combination of a quota and a tariff as expected. The quota will be based on import volumes over recent years and a 25 percent tariff will apply for the volumes exceeding that amount. 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
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