Some aluminium, steel products might be excluded from U.S tariffs, says Japan Trade Minister

Japanese trade minister updated on Tuesday that there is a high chance of some Japanese steel and aluminium products to be exempted from the new US tariffs; reason being the products are not quickly replaceable.

“I think there is a high chance that Japanese steel and aluminium products would be exempted from the new tariffs on a per-item basis, as they contribute greatly to U.S. industries and many of them have little substitute,” the minister told a news conference.

 While US President Donald Trump has proclaimed to impose 25 per cent import tariffs on steel and 10 per cent on aluminium, he, at the same time, has released Canada and Mexico from the tariffs and proposed the same offer to other allies.

Trump’s proclamation has also allowed importers to appeal for an exemption on some of their specific products.

“We will continuously and tenaciously ask (US Trade Representatives) to exempt Japan from the tariffs”, Seko said.

Japan exports 27,000 tonnes of rolled and extruded aluminium out of 2.1 million tonnes of total production and 243,000 tonnes of total exports.

Global automakers and vehicle suppliers on the other hand are also pressing the Trump administration and US Congress to exempt the European Union and other allies from the new steel and aluminium tariffs, which is about to come into an effect on Friday, said industry officials.