Koichi Hagiuda, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, and US Secretary of Commerce Lemond met within the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry on the 15th to resolve the problem that the United States is taking additional tariff measures on steel and aluminum products based on Article 232 of the Trade Expansion Act. Agreed to start talks for. How to find a solution will be an issue for the future, but it is a step forward toward solving the problem. At the meeting, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Hagita requested the elimination of additional tariffs. The US side has also indicated that it will enter into discussions for a solution. In 2018, the United States imposed additional tariffs on 25% of steel products and 10% of aluminum products based on Article 232 of the Trade Expansion Act. The Japanese side has requested a complete abolition, but it has not yet been resolved. The Government of Japan is aiming for a "complete solution in a form consistent with the WTO Agreement," and plans to request the complete elimination of additional tariffs in future discussions. On the other hand, the introduction of the tariff quota system, which is said to have been agreed between the United States and the EU (European Union), may not be completely resolved, but it may be applied in a way that does not conflict with the WTO agreement. However, the concrete measures for the solution are considered to be blank at the moment, and future discussions will be watched. About 70% of Japanese steel products are exempted on an application basis, but some steel materials are not exempted. There is a strong need for high-quality Japanese steel products in the United States, and there are strong calls among local users to eliminate additional tariffs.
