U.S. in Talks on Tariff Exemptions, Trade Official Says
If Mr. Trump decides to exclude Brazil and South Korea from the tariffs,
and allows Canada and Mexico to remain exempt, he will have given a reprieve to the four largest foreign suppliers of steel to the United States, together accounting for half of all steel imports.
Mr. Lighthizer said he favored sparing those countries from the tariffs while talks continue, though he said
that decision would be “up to the president.” Mr. Lighthizer said he expected the conversations over exclusions to conclude by the end of April.
By NATALIE KITROEFFMARCH 21, 2018
Less than two days before the Trump administration plans to impose steep tariffs on imported steel and aluminum, its chief trade representative said Wednesday
that several of the nation’s top trading partners were in line for potential exemptions.
Cecilia Malmstrom, the European Union’s commissioner for trade, said in a statement
that she had met with the United States commerce secretary, Wilbur Ross, this week to talk about steel and aluminum trade “with a view to identifying mutually acceptable outcomes as rapidly as possible
The trade official, Robert Lighthizer, said at a hearing of the House Ways and Means Committee
that the administration was talking with Australia, Argentina and the European Union about excluding them from the 25 percent tariff on imported steel and 10 percent charge on aluminum.