Trade War Alert

U.S. Steel and Aluminum Tariff Exemptions expire tonight

Toronto, May 31, 2018

Exemptions for Canada, Mexico and the European Union to the U.S. Steel and Aluminum Tariffs will expire at midnight tonight and are not being extended as per U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross' announcement earlier today.

U.S. Steel (25%) and Aluminum (10%) Tariffs apply to the following imports into the U.S. from Canada, Mexico and the EU beginning at 12:01 am June 1st, 2018:

The steel duties will be applied at the six digit level to the following tariff numbers: 7206.10 through 7216.50, 7216.99 through 7301.10 (includes ingots, bars, rods, sheets and wire), 7302.10, 7302.40 through 7302.90 and 7304.10 through 7306.90 (includes rails, pipes, and tubes).

The aluminum duties will be applied to the following tariff numbers: (a) unwrought aluminum (HTS 7601); (b) aluminum bars, rods, and profiles (HTS 7604); (c) aluminum wire (HTS 7605); (d) aluminum plate, sheet, strip, and foil (flat rolled products) (HTS 7606 and 7607); (e) aluminum tubes and pipes and tube and pipe fittings (HTS 7608 and 7609); and (f) aluminum castings and forgings (HTS 7616.99.5160 and 7616.99.5170).

In the wake of this announcement, Canada, Mexico and the EU have all issued retaliatory measures against the U.S.

Canada:

Tariffs of 25 per cent or similar "trade-restrictive measures" to the following list of items, which includes:

• Flat-rolled products of iron or non-alloy steel
• Flat-rolled products of stainless steel
• Tubes, pipes and hollow profiles of iron
• Railway or tramway track construction material

And a 10 per cent surtax or similar "trade-restrictive measures" will be added to the following list of items, which includes:

• Yogurt, strawberry jam
• Roasted coffee
• Chocolate, white chocolate, confectionery sugar
• Sleeping bags
• Soya sauce, ketchup, mustard
• Dishwasher detergent
• Insecticides
• Kitchenware
• Plywood
• Lawn mowers
• Inflatable boats, sailboats, motorboats
• Mattresses

Mexico:

Will impose measures equivalent to various products such as flat steels (hot and cold laminates, including coated and various tubes), lamps, legs and pork vanes, sausages and food preparations, Apples, grapes, blueberries, various cheeses, among others, up to an amount comparable to the level of the affectation.

EU:

A 10-page list of products subject to additional duties, including:

• Several common food products, including kidney beans, rice, cereal, peanut butter, etc.
• Orange juice
• Whiskey
• Cigarettes and tobacco
• Makeup and skincare products
• Clothing such as t-shirts, jeans, cotton items
• Several types of steel
• Cooking appliances and other kitchen products
• Rowing boats, canoes, yachts
• Paper towels, toilet paper, tampons, diapers
• Several types of shoes
• Playing cards
• Motorcycles

For more information please call Brian Rowe, Director – Customs Compliance & Regulatory Affairs at (905) 882-4880, ext. 213.