Section 232 Tariffs

Tariffs are taxes or duties that must be paid on goods being imported into the United States. While the unilateral imposition of tariffs may be permitted under U.S. law under special circumstances, the misuse of tariffs under these laws can create trade wars that hurt American companies, workers, farmers and consumers. Business Roundtable urges the Administration to continue working with allies and key trading partners to remove remaining Section 232 tariffs and restrictions and work together to address overcapacity and subsidies that distort markets.

Congress Must Assert Its Constitutional Authority to Address Presidential Misuse of Section 232

In Congressional testimony, Business Roundtable President and CEO Joshua Bolten cited four reasons why Business Roundtable opposes the Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum imports:

1. Increased Cost to Consumers

The tariffs that have been placed on steel and aluminum imports will have a downstream effect on products and consumers. Steel and aluminum are key manufacturing materials for a variety of products and everyday items. The tariffs will naturally increase the cost of production which will raise the price of the finished good. This will directly impact American families as everyday goods and products will become less affordable.

2. Loss of Competitiveness

The steel and aluminum tariffs will raise production costs for U.S. companies and as a result, will make U.S. companies and products less competitive domestically and internationally. Since the tariffs will increase the cost of a finished good, it will make U.S. products more expensive and less attractive, compared to those of foreign competitors.

3. Retaliation Against America’s Exporters

As a result of the steel and aluminum tariffs, U.S. trade partners have responded or are in the process of enacting retaliatory tariffs. On June 5, 2018, Mexico imposed tariffs on about $3 billion worth of U.S. products, including steel, cheese, apples, and bourbon. Canada and the European Union are in the process of following with their retaliatory tariffs. If the automobile tariff goes into effect, the retaliatory tariffs from other countries will only increase. This will ultimately distance the United States from its closest trading partners and has the potential to start a trade conflict that will harm U.S. economic interests.

4. Misuse of National Security Designation

Section 232 is intended to be used to combat real national security threats—not as an excuse to be used to raise blanket tariffs on other countries The national security purpose of restricting steel and aluminum imports from our closest allies is not at all clear. In a Defense Department memo, the Secretary of Defense wrote, “DOD does not believe that the findings in the [Commerce Department’s] reports impact the ability of DOD programs to acquire the steel or aluminum necessary to meet national defense requirements.

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