August 17, 2023

Department of Commerce Heeds the Harm to Consumers in
Preliminary Tinplate Steel Tariff Determination

Today, the Department of Commerce rightfully rejected the extreme import duties on tinplate steel sought by Ohio steelmaker Cleveland-Cliffs. The preliminary determination, which is expected to be finalized early next year, proposes tariff rates of 122.5% on China, 7.01% on Germany, 5.29% percent on Canada, and 0% on the Netherlands, South Korea, Taiwan, Turkey, and the United Kingdom.

In response, Gerard Scimeca, Chairman of Consumer Action for a Strong Economy, issued the following statement:

“Today’s announcement demonstrates that the Biden administration is well aware of the negative impacts tariffs on tin mill steel would have on U.S. consumers and American jobs — and that tin mill steel imports don’t pose a threat of injury to domestic steel manufacturers.

“We are pleased to see that Commerce yielded to only a fraction of Cleveland-Cliffs’ protectionist demands, and outright denied higher tariffs on five of the eight countries named in the petition. However, we believe the higher tariffs on Germany and Canada are unwarranted, and will hurt U.S. consumers, domestic jobs, and weaken America’s still-struggling supply chain. We remain optimistic that these concerns will be reflected in the final decision, and the higher tin mill steel tariffs demanded by Cleveland-Cliffs on these two nations are likewise denied.

“The tariffs proposed by Cleveland-Cliffs would raise costs for nearly every company that produces canned goods, resulting in significantly higher prices at grocery stores. This would be particularly punishing to lower-income consumers who rely on a higher proportion of canned, shelf-stable products to feed their families.”

“We are hopeful that Commerce’s final determination will reject any new tariffs on tinplate steel from Germany and Canada.”