US Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo announced today the US will be temporarily suspending 232 tariffs on Ukrainian steel for one year. In a press release, Raimondo said Ukraine’s steel industry is “uniquely important to the country’s economic strength, employing 1 in 13 Ukrainians with good-paying jobs.”
The statement noted that “some of Ukraine’s largest steel communities have been among those hardest hit by Putin’s barbarism, and the steel mill in Mariupol has become a lasting symbol of Ukraine’s determination to resist Russia’s aggression. Many of Ukraine’s steel mills have continued to pay, feed, and even shelter their employees over the course of fighting. Despite nearby fighting, some Ukrainian mills have even started producing again.”
Raimondo said creating export opportunities for these mills is “essential to their ability to continue employing their workers and maintaining one of Ukraine’s most important industries.”
Raimondo commented, “Steelworkers are among the world’s most resilient—whether they live in Youngstown or Mariupol. We can’t just admire the fortitude and spirit of the Ukrainian people—we need to have their backs and support one of the most important industries to Ukraine’s economic well-being. For steel mills to continue as an economic lifeline for the people of Ukraine, they must be able to export their steel. Today’s announcement is a signal to the Ukrainian people that we are committed to helping them thrive in the face of Putin’s aggression, and that their work will create a stronger Ukraine, both today and in the future.”
Since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, the Department of Commerce has launched a series of new export control restrictions on Russia in partnership with three dozen allies, including 27 EU member states, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Switzerland, Iceland, and Norway.
The DOC has added 260 parties in Russia, Belarus, and multiple other countries to the Entity List. These entities have been involved in, contributed to, or otherwise supported the Russian security services, military and defense sectors, and military and/or defense research and development efforts.
Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced that Canada has cancelled all duties on Ukrainian imports for one year.