US Commerce Department launches steel and aluminum ‘inclusions process’

The US Commerce Department said on Thursday it had commenced a new process to allow US manufacturers and trade associations to request the inclusion of derivative aluminum and steel articles under Section 232 steel and aluminum tariffs.

The inclusion process, issued through an interim final rule on Wednesday, also eliminates the Section 232 aluminum and steel exclusions process, the Commerce Department said in a statement.

The action follows proclamations by President Donald Trump to establish a mechanism for expanding the scope of steel and aluminum tariffs to cover “derivative” articles that contain steel or aluminum, the department said.

(By Jasper Ward and Ismail Shakil; Editing by Leslie Adler)