Japan seeks 232 exemption on high-quality steel

The Japanese government is calling on the United States to exempt high-quality Japanese steel from its Section 232 import tariffs.

Motofuni Kusachi, chief representative of Japan Iron & Steel Federation, told delegates on Thursday March 29 at the China Iron & Steel Association’s 16th International Steel Market and Trade Conference in Xi’an that because Japan exports high-quality products that US mills cannot produce, its steel should not be subject to the Section 232 import taxes.

Several other countries and territories have been granted temporary exemptions from the US import tariffs – including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico and the European Union – while they continue to negotiate with the US. South Korea reached an exemption agreement with the US, effective May 1, that replaces the tariff with an annual quota.

Negotiations for country exemptions are scheduled to conclude by May 1, according to Philip Bell, president of US Steel Manufacturers Association.

Japan exported 162,342 tonnes of finished steel to the US in January, up 31% year on year.

Source: AMM