Global Geopolitical Series: U.S. announces duties on F.S. Steel from China and Mexico

Back to back decisions are making it clearer that the Trump administration that the United States would no longer tolerate malpractices in trade. The latest actions by the U.S. Commerce Department takes on steel exporters from China and Mexico, over subsidies. The investigation into the imports of Fabricated Structural Steel (FSS) was initiated based on a petition filed by American Institute of Steel Construction Full Member Subgroup Chicago.

Last night, the Commerce Department announced its crackdown on certain steel products that are produced in China and Mexico and then exported to the United States as fabricated structural steel (FSS). According to the department, these products received countervailable subsidies, ranging from 30.3 to 177.43 percent in the case of China, and zero to 74.01 percent in the case of Mexico. In 2018, imports of fabricated structural steel from China and Mexico were valued at an estimated $897.5 million, and $622.4 million, respectively.

Actions like these have increased under the Trump administration and by as much as 219 percent, compared to a similar period under his predecessor.