Leibowitz on Trade: Q&A on Turkey Tariffs, AIIS Suit

Lewis Leibowitz, trade attorney and contributor to Steel Market Update, offers the following commentary on the latest developments in Washington:

• Turkey Tariffs– President Trump tweeted on Friday that he “authorized a doubling of Tariffs on Steel and Aluminum with respect to Turkey as their currency, the Turkish Lira, slides rapidly downward against our very strong Dollar!” There was press speculation that the doubling of tariffs was related to continuing diplomatic tensions over the detention of an American pastor. Later in the day, the White House attempted to clarify the reason for the doubling of tariffs on Turkish steel and aluminum imports into the U.S.: “Section 232 tariffs are imposed on imports from particular countries whose exports threaten to impair national security as defined in Section 232, independent of negotiations on trade or any other matter,” White House spokeswoman Lindsay Walters said in a statement.