Turkish Steel Tariff Returning to 25% May 21; Turkey Leaves GSP May 17
Turkish exports are no longer eligible for the Generalized System of Preferences, and Turkish solar cells and residential washers are also now subject to safeguard tariffs. The changes took effect May 17.
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The president announced just after 8 p.m. on May 16 that Turkey is no longer a developing country, and is therefore leaving GSP and no longer eligible for safeguard exemptions. Although the U.S. Trade Representative announced that both Turkey and India would be terminated from GSP back in March, India is still in the GSP program.
The White House also announced that the 50 percent Section 232 tariff on Turkish steel since Aug. 13, widely seen as punishment for the jailing of an American citizen, will return to 25 percent on May 21. The president said that Turkish steel imports fell 48 percent in 2018, and since domestic steel utilization has improved to 80 percent, the rate can be reduced.