US Firms’ 100% Success Rate Sparks New 700-Item Tariff Demand

The “near 100% success rate” of an August tariff request has emboldened US industry, leading to a new, larger demand to tax 700 additional foreign products. The US Commerce Department is now reviewing this second list, with a decision expected in December or January that has global exporters on edge.
In August, 407 items, from furniture parts to combine harvesters, were added to the “steel derivatives” list. This success has now prompted firms like Guardian Bikes, Red Gold canning, and American Pan cookware to submit their own detailed pleas for protection before the October 21 deadline.
These companies argue that they are victims of an “unfair” system. They must pay high tariffs on the raw steel they import, while foreign competitors can ship finished, steel-containing goods to the US without an equivalent tax, allowing them to “flood the market” with cheaper products.
This policy is deeply troubling for European allies. The UK and EU, having already agreed to new trade deals with baseline tariffs, now face an unexpected additional tariff on the steel content of their goods. Exporters fear this “makes a mockery” of their agreements.
The specific items requested cover a vast range of goods. They include consumer items like bicycles and baking pans, as well as industrial components like steel wheels for trucks, mattress springs, and 200 different industrial machines.
George Riddell of Flint Global called the US policy “expansionist” and “liberal” in its approvals. This approach, he noted, is creating significant “uncertainty in the relationship” with the UK and EU, despite the formal pacts being in place.