Nails, tacks, pins, wire ropes or bumper parts will be subject to the same tariffs as those imposed on American imports of steel (+25%) and aluminium (+10%) from 8 February 2020.
Indeed, Washington estimates that these imports of steel and aluminium by-products have "considerably increased", thereby circumventing the customs duties imposed under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act, from which European products have been suffering since 1 June 2018 (see EUROPE 12031/2), a presidential document states.
In addition, the White House does not yet consider that it has achieved its goals of raising the duties on steel and aluminium.
According to the paper, the capacity utilisation level of domestic steel producers, as set by the U.S. Department of Commerce, has not stabilised "at or above the 80% capacity utilisation level identified ... as necessary to eliminate the threat to national security" referred to in Section 232. For aluminium, capacity utilisation "has improved, but remains below the target" set by the U.S. Department of Commerce.
To stop this circumvention, Washington will therefore adjust its duties by applying an additional duty of 25% for steel and 10% for aluminium products from 8 February. (Original version in French by Hermine Donceel)