Regarding the release of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s report concerning the Section 232 Investigation on the Effect of Imports of Steel on U.S. National Security.

February19,2018
Kosei Shindo
Chairman
    The Japan Iron and Steel Federation

 

On February 16, the U.S. Department of Commerce released its report concerning the Section 232 investigation on the effect of imports of steel mill products on the national security of the United States.

It is our view that the recommendations in this report are very regrettable. 　Imports of steel from Japan are integral to the U.S. economy and do not threaten the national security of the United States.  The recommendations in the report that the President to take action to limit the level of imports of steel products violates the principles of free trade, which form the foundation on which the global economy has developed and prospered.  Without strict adherence to these principles, the prospect of future growth is uncertain.

The Japanese steel industry will study the impact of this report’s recommendations very carefully and will continue to monitor these developments carefully.  We will continue to advocate for the adoption of policies based on the principles of free trade. 　We expect President Trump to make accurate and deliberate judgement to the recommendations in the Section 232 report.

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