President Donald Trump threatened to double Section 232 tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum to 50%, starting March 12, after Ontario placed a 25% surcharge on electricity exported to Michigan, Minnesota and New York. However, Ontario Premier Rob Ford later dropped the surcharge, and Trump told White House reporters he "probably" would not follow through with the threat as a result.
All Section 232 quota and tariff-rate quota entries must be presented to CBP by 4:30 p.m. today, local port time, to avoid tariffs that snap back into effect March 12 for certain countries, said CBP in a CSMS message. While Section 232 country exemptions and TRQs for Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, EU countries, Japan, Mexico, South Korea and the U.K. expire at midnight, CBP regulations require that quota entries be filed only during CBP’s official office hours.
Two pro-trade Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee reintroduced a bill that would restrict the president's ability to use Section 232 to impose tariffs without Congress' consent. Four other House Democrats are co-sponsoring the bill.
CBP provided guidance on the 25% import duty for all imports of steel articles and derivative steel articles from all countries via a March 7 cargo systems message. This import duty is effective on 12:01 a.m. EDT on March 12 (see 2503030054).
CBP provided guidance on the 25% import duty for all imports of aluminum articles and derivative aluminum articles from all countries via a March 7 cargo systems message. This import duty is effective on 12:01 a.m. on March 12 (see 2503030054).
Canadians and New Englanders, brought together by the New England-Canada Business Council, expressed bewilderment at the trade war directed at Canada, but said that President Donald Trump's actions will not be easily overcome as the two countries start to talk about how to change the NAFTA successor agreement in its sunset review.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, when asked by a Bloomberg TV reporter if tariffs will be hiked on April 2, or if a process begins then, said "some tariffs will come on right away," while others could take three weeks, four weeks, or two months, depending on which law is being used.
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Going from zero tariffs on most Canadian and Mexican imports to 25% convulsed Capitol Hill and foreign capitals, with some Republicans diverging from the president's protectionist message and Democrats universally using the action to attack Trump as the reason prices will go up.
President Donald Trump directed the Commerce Department to investigate whether the importation of lumber, wooden cabinets, wooden furniture and paper pose a threat to national security under Section 232.