Japan could be exempted from U.S. tariffs on steel, aluminum: Seko

Reuters

Published Mar 19, 2018 09:12PM ET

Japan could be exempted from U.S. tariffs on steel, aluminum: Seko

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese trade minister Hiroshige Seko said on Tuesday that there was a high possibility Japan would be exempted from U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum on per-item basis.

Seko said he was aware Japanese steel makers and others were encouraging their U.S. clients to apply for exemptions. He added that Japanese steel and aluminum products contributed greatly to U.S. industry and that they were irreplaceable.

U.S. President Donald Trump pressed ahead earlier this month with import tariffs of 25 percent on steel and 10 percent for aluminum but exempted Canada and Mexico and offered the possibility of excluding other allies.