AISI Statement on Melt and Pour Rule for Steel Imports From Mexico

July 10, 2024

WASHINGTON, D.C. – American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) President and CEO Kevin Dempsey provided the following statement regarding today’s announcement that the Section 232 exclusion for steel imports from Mexico will henceforth apply only to steel products that were melted and poured in Mexico, the United States or Canada.

“AISI welcomes President Biden’s action to require that only those steel imports from Mexico that were melted and poured in North America may receive duty-free treatment under Section 232. This important change is intended to close a loophole in the Section 232 program that has allowed steel made outside of North America to evade the steel tariffs by being shipped to Mexico for further processing before being exported to the United States. But this reform can only be effective if Mexico ensures that accurate and complete information on the country of melt and pour of its steel imports and exports is collected and made available to U.S. officials. We urge the U.S. government to continue to press for additional actions to address the many schemes by steel traders to circumvent and evade U.S. trade laws, and to ensure this new arrangement is vigorously and fully enforced.”

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Contact: Lisa Harrison

202.452.7115 / lharrison@steel.org

AISI serves as the voice of the American steel industry in the public policy arena and advances the case for steel in the marketplace as the preferred material of choice. AISI’s membership is comprised of integrated and electric arc furnace (EAF) steelmakers reflecting the production of both carbon and stainless steels which are critical to the everyday lives of all Americans — including national security, roads and bridges, the electrical grid, clean energy technologies and the automotive market. AISI also represents nearly 80 associate members who are suppliers to or customers of the steel industry. For more news about steel and its applications, view AISI’s website at www.steel.org. Follow AISI on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter (@AISISteel) or Instagram.