Consultations Begin With Japan on Section 232 Tariffs

U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo announced that consultations have begun with Japan on Section 232 tariffs on Japanese steel and aluminum. They said that the solutions will be aimed at strengthening "our democratic alliance," and the statement says that Japan and the U.S. share "similar national security interests." Japan, Canada, the European Union and other longtime allies of the U.S. were insulted that the Section 232 tariffs, which purportedly are to protect national security, applied to their countries.

"Secretary Raimondo and Ambassador Tai reiterated concerns about the impact on U.S. industries stemming from global non-market excess capacity driven largely by China," the statement said. "These consultations present an opportunity to promote high standards, address shared concerns, including climate change, and hold countries like China that support trade-distorting non-market policies and practices to account."