Final Thoughts

It is much like a broken record playing 232, 232 over and over again. I read an article on World Trade Online this morning that quoted White House trade advisor Peter Navarro who said, “…the Trump administration’s trade moves over its first six months will pale in comparison to the ‘amazing’ steps it will take over the next six, with national security investigations of steel and aluminum imports expected to ‘bear fruit’ soon.” The comments were made during a July 26 interview with radio host Laura Ingraham.

Navarro, when asked about the president’s suggestion that the Section 232 investigation of steel imports wouldn’t happen as soon as expected, said, “the delay, as it were, is because the Department of Commerce must finish an investigation under the 232 statute, and if the secretary comes in with a finding that national security is harmed, then the president can act. So we’re waiting for that report. The secretary of commerce is doing a measured, detailed job.”