Turkey welcomes steel tariff ruling against Trump

Tax | | MIC Customs Solutions |

Donald Trump did not have the right to place extra duties on Turkish steel, it has been ruled.


Turkey has welcomed a decision by the US Court of International Trade stating that imposing tariffs on its steel exports to the US was unlawful.

Following a tweet from US president Donald Trump in August 2018 citing national security and a slump in the Lira, Turkey's steel import tariffs were raised from 25 per cent to 50 per cent.

Despite Turkey's protests that a rate of 25 per cent applies to all countries without an individually negotiated trade deal - and the two nations being NATO allies - the taxes remained in place until May 2019.

Now, the US Court of International Trade has said Mr Trump's additional duties under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 was in violation of the law "and the Constitution's guarantee of equal protection under the law".

It added: "[T]he President's expansive view of his power under Section 232 is mistaken."

Turkish steel industry exports to the US recorded a 70 per cent loss between 2018 and 2019 as a result of the additional levies, so the decision has been welcomed by exporters and analysts.

A number of Turkish steel producers have said they will now file a claim for compensation and plan to take their case to the World Trade Organization if the Trump administration appeals.