Japan asks the United States exemption from 25% tariffs on aluminum and steel – observer

Japan has requested the United States an exemption from 25% tariffs to aluminum and steel imports that will come into force on March 12, a spokesman for the Japanese government said on Wednesday.

The new US President Donald Trump, signed two decrees on Monday In Washington that establish customs of 25% customs on steel and aluminum, “without exception or exemption.”

“This is the beginning of making America rich again.” Trump confirms 25% rates on steel and aluminum imports

The new rules will affect steel and aluminum, regardless of its originincluding the economic partners who previously benefited from exemptions (Argentina, Australia, Canada, Mexico, European Union and the United Kingdom). Japan may lose the exemption it benefits for steel and derivatives.

By 2022, the country obtained a quota to 1.25 million tons of steel per year for the United States. Regarding aluminum, Japan is currently subject to customs of 10%.

“We are aware of the issuance of the Presidential Decree on additional customs rates on steel and aluminum (…). We asked the US government to exclude our country from these measures, ”Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters.

The request was made by the Japanese embassy in the United States, the spokesman said.

“Japan will carefully study the content of the measures and its impact on our country and will take the necessary measures,” Hayashi added.

Canada and the European Union reported the imposition of customs rates on Tuesday, while South Korea and the United Kingdom emphasized the availability to cooperate with Washington.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, in turn, assured that Donald Trump “agreed to be considered an exemption” for his country.

Mexico, in turn, appealed to the US President not to destroy the commercial and growth balances of North America.

During the first term (2017-2021), the US leader imposed 25% tariffs on steel and 10% on aluminum, but then granted tax exempt quotas to various business partners, including Canada, Mexico, Australia and Brazil.