Tokyo, February 12 (HS): Japan requested the US to exempt its steel and aluminum products from tariffs. This tariff is to come into effect next month. US President Donald Trump has announced a 25 percent tariff on steel and aluminum products a few days ago.
According to the news of Japan Today newspaper, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said that the government has formally requested the exemption on Wednesday through the Japanese Embassy in the United States. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said in Parliament that the government is closely monitoring any possible impact on Japan’s economy. The government will make every possible effort for exemption. It is important that Ishiba has met Trump last week.
According to the White House, the tariff will be effective from March 12. This is Trump’s first sector-based tariff order after taking office last month. Even during his first presidency in 2018, Trump had imposed a tariff of 25 percent on steel and 10 percent on aluminum, citing national security concerns. After this, Joe Biden, who became the President of America, provided duty-free quota to many trading partners including Japan. According to data from Japan’s Finance Ministry, Japan’s US-bound steel exports in 2024 totaled 302.6 billion yen. This is 1.4 percent of the total export value of the United States.
Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
