The U.S. will double tariffs slated to take effect March 12 on Canadian aluminum and steel, from 25% to 50%, in response to Ontario's decision to place 25% export surcharges on electricity purchased in the U.S., President Donald Trump said today on Truth Social.
Section 232 tariffs on the new steel and aluminum “derivatives” outside of Chapters 73 and 76 will take effect at 12:01 a.m. tonight, CBP said in a pair of CSMS messages. The March 12 effective date is in line with the other Section 232 duty increases announced in February, including an end to all country-specific quotas and exclusions and an increase in aluminum tariffs to 25%.
President Donald Trump threatened to double Section 232 tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum to 50%, starting March 12, after Ontario placed a 25% surcharge on electricity exported to Michigan, Minnesota and New York. However, Ontario Premier Rob Ford later dropped the surcharge, and Trump told White House reporters he "probably" would not follow through with the threat as a result.
Elevated import volumes at major U.S. ports could persist through this spring "amid continuing tariff turmoil" before volumes face potential year-over-year drops over the summer, according to the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.
The United States is interested in negotiating a new free trade agreement with India, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told an Indian audience on March 8.
Two pro-trade Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee reintroduced a bill that would restrict the president's ability to use Section 232 to impose tariffs without Congress' consent. Four other House Democrats are co-sponsoring the bill.
CBP has released its March 5 Customs Bulletin (Vol. 59, No. 10), which includes a ruling action involving the revocation of one ruling letter and revocation of treatment relating to the tariff classification of women's pants. Also included are two Court of International Trade slip opinions.
CBP updated Harmonized System Update 2509 created on March 7 (see 2503070015). The update says that as of March 7, the temporary exclusion from the additional ad valorem IEEPA duties in place for in-transit shipments ended. Consequently, HTS 9903.01.23 is no longer available for merchandise entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, after 12:01 a.m. EST on March 7. All shipments that are country of origin China and Hong Kong are required to submit the 9903.01.24 tariff as well as remit payment of the additional 20% duty, unless the shipment meets the other exclusions (donation, information materials, Chapter 98).
CBP provided guidance on the 25% import duty for all imports of steel articles and derivative steel articles from all countries via a March 7 cargo systems message. This import duty is effective on 12:01 a.m. EDT on March 12 (see 2503030054).
CBP provided guidance on the 25% import duty for all imports of aluminum articles and derivative aluminum articles from all countries via a March 7 cargo systems message. This import duty is effective on 12:01 a.m. on March 12 (see 2503030054).