The United States today launched separate disputes at the World Trade Organization (WTO) against China, the European Union, Canada, Mexico and Turkey, challenging the tariffs each WTO Member imposed in response to the Trump administration’s Section 232 tariffs against steel and aluminum imports.
In a statement, US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said: “These tariffs appear to breach each WTO Member’s commitments under the WTO Agreement. The United States will take all necessary actions to protect our interests, and we urge our trading partners to work constructively with us on the problems created by massive and persistent excess capacity in the steel and aluminum sectors.”
China’s retaliatory tariffs, effective April 2, 2018, impose 15 to 25 percent additional duties on $3.0 billion in US imports (based on 2017 trade values).
The EU’s retaliatory tariffs are effective in two tiers. The first tier, effective June 22, 2018, imposes 10 to 25 percent additional duties on $3.2 billion in US imports (based on 2017 trade values). Tier 2 is not effective until June 1, 2021. In tier 2, the EU will be imposing 10 to 50 percent additional duties on $4.2 billion in US imports (based on 2017 trade values).
Turkey’s retaliatory tariffs, effective June 21, 2018, impose 4 to 70 percent additional duties on $1.8 billion in US imports (based on 2017 trade values).
Canada’s retaliatory tariffs, effective July 1, 2018, impose 10 to 25 percent duties on $12.7 billion in US imports (based on 2017 trade values).
Mexico’s retaliatory tariffs went into effect in two tranches, on June 5, 2018 and July 5, 2018. In total, Mexico is imposing 7 to 25 percent duties on $3.6 billion in US imports (based on 2017 trade values).