Steel Trade Groups Raise Grave Concerns over CBP Action

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Five leading steel industry associations have raised concerns over a recent notification by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) that grants additional days for payment of duties, taxes and other fees, on account of the emergency situation created by COVID-19.

The concerns were raised in a joint letter by the associations addressed to Mark Morgan, acting CBP Commissioner. The signatories of the letter are the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), Steel Manufacturers Association (SMA), Specialty Steel Industry of North America (SSINA), The Committee on Pipe and Tube Imports (CPTI) and American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC).

ALSO READ:

AISI Seeks Congress Support to Section 232 Steel Tariffs

AISI Applauds Court Ruling Upholding Section 232 Tariffs

The letter appreciated the efforts taken by the administration in limiting the spread and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, it noted that any effort to delay or reduce the collection of duties on unfairly traded steel imports will ultimately hurt the U.S. domestic industry and workers. It reminded that the existing antidumping and countervailing duty orders on steel imports are a direct result of legal action petitioned by domestic steelmakers.

The associations urged the administration to ensure that duties collected by CBP under the Section 232 action should continue without pause during the COVID-19 pandemic.