Trade Groups Tell Biden to Hike Steel Tariffs or Impose Quotas on Mexico
Trade groups representing steel pipe and tube producers, along with Optimus Steel, Zekelman Industries, Atkore and the Coalition for a Prosperous America are asking the president to either reimpose tariffs on Mexican steel under Section 232, or impose quotas that reduce the import of products that are now imported in greater quantities than before 2017.
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In 2019, President Donald Trump agreed to carve Canada and Mexico out of the global 25% tariff on imported steel that was imposed in early 2018.
The groups and companies say that Mexican rebar shipments are 1,800% higher than before Section 232 actions, and that steel conduit imports from Mexico have increased almost six-fold.
"While Mexico has engaged in some negotiations, they are not negotiating in good faith," they wrote. "Their producers are too politically powerful and are benefiting from increased U.S. sales that they firmly do not want to give up. The White House’s continued inaction gives us little confidence in trade agreements due to the U.S. reluctance to enforce them."