Schaumburg, IL — On July 15, USTR published its final remedy in the Brazil Section 301 case – a 25% tariff will be effective on July 22. Following a yearlong investigation, USTR determined that certain Brazilian measures related to digital trade and electronic payment services; unfair, preferential tariffs; anti-corruption interference; intellectual property protection; ethanol market access; and illegal deforestation are unreasonable and burden or restrict the commerce of American farmers, workers, innovators, and exporters. The good news is Brazilian pig iron will not be subject to the Section 301 Brazilian tariffs.
AFS CEO, Justin Scott comments, "This exemption is a significant win for American iron foundries. Pig iron is an essential input with no domestic substitute, and a 25% tariff would have raised costs on our members while doing nothing to bring production home. I commend Stephanie Salmon along with the member companies who testified and filed comments, for making the case so effectively. This is the kind of work AFS does every day to keep American foundries competitive."
Among AFS members that weighed in with comments in opposition to a 25% tariff on Brazilian pig iron were Waupaca, Donsco, as well as Consolidated Mill Supply, special thanks to Mark Kaplan for testifying. Questions? Contact Stephanie Salmon.