Canned Food Industry Urges Exemption of Tinplate Steel From Commerce Section 232 Review

The canned food industry on June 12 urged President Donald Trump and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross to exclude tinplate steel from tariffs or other restrictions on such imports that could be taken pursuant to Commerce’s ongoing Section 232 steel investigation, the Can Manufacturers Institute said in a press release (here). Almost 20 groups representing the canned food industry asked the administration to exempt tinplate steel because it isn’t used in defense or national security applications. Tariffs or trade barriers would harshly impact those on governmental food assistance and diminish the value of taxpayer-funded federal food assistance programs, the release says. The White House and Commerce didn’t immediately comment. Commerce is expected to finish its Section 232 investigation this month (see 1705240034).

Meanwhile, the American Line Pipe Producers Association recommended that the Trump administration include imports of line pipe from Canada in any actions against imports taken pursuant to the Section 232 investigation, it said in a press release (here). The association said a Russian-owned Canadian producer has recently "taken a massive line pipe sale away from the U.S. industry and is aggressively seeking to capture other large sales." According to the press release, "due to this lost sale, U.S. line pipe producers are being forced to investigate potential antidumping and countervailing duty cases against large diameter line pipe imports from Canada."

Responding in an email to the press release, a spokeswoman for the Embassy of Canada in Washington noted it is "hopeful" that any Section 232 issue with steel "can be resolved," adding that the Canadian government has told U.S. Cabinet-level officials and senators that "we think it is unwise to look at Canada through a national security lens." Any measures taken against Canada pursuant to the 232 investigation would hurt U.S. companies that rely on long-term contracts and just-in-time delivery from Canadian mills, especially the auto sector, the spokeswoman said. "Our steel and aluminum industries support good middle class jobs, are highly integrated, and our trade is highly balanced," the spokeswoman said. "As a key ally and NORAD partner, we are concerned that Canada was included." EVRAZ didn't immediately comment.