Trade Cases
September 3, 2019
What Will Happen When Section 232 Goes Away?
Written by Tim Triplett
The effectiveness of the Trump administration’s Section 232 tariff gets mixed reviews. The 25 percent tariff has contributed to a 13 percent reduction in steel imports this year, easing the competitive pressures on domestic mills. But after an initial spike in steel prices last year, and record earnings by the mills, the price of finished steel has reverted to pre-tariff levels once again. Begging the questions: Has Section 232 run its course? And what will happen if and when Section 232 goes away?
“Everyone knows that trade remedies have a shelf life; 232 will not be around forever,” said Phil Bell, president of the Steel Manufacturers Association, speaking on a trade panel during Steel Market Update’s Steel Summit last week in Atlanta.
