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Tariff exemption granted but confusion continues

Jul 27, 2018
There’s a lot of tariff talk swirling around these days, but let’s remember what began this trade war: President Donald Trump’s steel and aluminum tariffs. Since those tariffs were announced in March, companies have filed more than 28,000 requests for exemptions from the Department of Commerce. As of this week, only 1,000 applications have been […]

A dreaded ending to the tariff exemption process

Jul 19, 2018
 Todd Adams is vice president of Stainless Imports Inc., a small family-owned stainless steel manufacturer based in Florida. We had Adams on the show in early May. His company had applied for an exemption from tariffs on a specific product; the company had “combed the earth” to find a mill that could produce it and found one […]

Navigating the objection phase of the tariff exemption process

Jun 21, 2018
This week, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross announced the first official exemptions and rejections for companies that applied for exclusions from steel and aluminum tariffs. For seven lucky companies, that means they’ll get to stop paying the tariffs on specific imports — 25 percent for steel and 10 percent for aluminum. But for Sam Desai, who […]

Are businesses paying the price for Trump's negotiating strategy?

Jun 21, 2018
That’s what Kansas Senator Pat Roberts said to Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross at Wednesday’s Finance Committee hearing. He also asked if Ross would personally call one of his constituents, Mike Bergmeier, who works at a company that makes agricultural equipment in Hutchinson, Kansas. Ross promised to call Bergmeier and he kept that promise. We […]

As new tariffs are announced, Commerce Dept. faces crunch over exclusion applications

Jun 15, 2018
U.S. tariffs announced today will affect more than 800 products from China, everything from aircraft tires and boat motors to cranes and bulldozers. Government officials say they’ll give U.S. companies the chance to request that certain products they import from China be excluded from the tariffs. Already, thousands of companies have filed applications with the […]

As the steel tariff exemption process drags on, optimism wanes

Jun 4, 2018
An American tire cord producer is frustrated by President Trump's 25 percent levy and an objection to his exemption application.
Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross testifies about U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum imports during a House Ways and Means Committee hearing in Washington, D.C.,  in March.
AFP Photo / Saul Loeb

Tariff exemption applications move through review process

May 17, 2018
Bill Brebrick of Zapp Precision Wire and Joel Johnson of Borusan Mannesmann submitted applications to the Department of Commerce for exemptions from steel tariffs President Trump implemented in March. The applications were open for public comment for 30 days on regulations.gov. Now, Johnson’s and Brebrick’s applications will be reviewed by the Department of Commerce, which […]

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Companies say they shouldn't pay tariffs on products no one makes domestically

May 4, 2018
"I don't think people really understand that the U.S. never ... reinvested in its steel-making ability," one executive says.
A worker stacks newly cast steel slabs at the NLMK Indiana mill in March in Portage, Indiana.
Scott Olson/Getty Images

U.S. companies line up to be excluded from steel and aluminum tariffs

Apr 17, 2018
Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe is in Florida to discuss trade issues with President Donald Trump. One issue on the table: Japan’s desire to be excluded from steel and aluminum tariffs that went into effect last month. Other key U.S. allies, including Australia, Canada, the European Union and Mexico have been granted exemptions. Plenty of […]