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ECONOMY | 09-03-2018 10:50

Argentina appealing to US for exemption on steel, aluminium tariffs

The Argentine Foreign Ministry says it “will engage in dialogue with corresponding authorities in the United States to secure an exception from those tariffs so Argentina can export both products".

US President Donald Trump’s decision to apply higher tariffs on steel and aluminium imports has sent the Mauricio Macri government into overdrive, with both the Foreign and Production ministries appealing the decision.

The Argentine Foreign Ministry says it “will engage in dialogue with corresponding authorities in the United States to secure an exception from those tariffs so Argentina can export both products”, a statement read.

Both the Foreign Ministry and Production Ministry have appealed to the US Department of Commerce led by Wilbur Ross.

“Among our arguments, we emphasise the small participation our sales have in the US market. In effect, Argentine exports represent just 0.6 percent of steel and 2.3 percent of aluminium imports into the United States in those respective areas”, it reads.

“Argentina is not the cause or a contributor to the distortions that affect world and US markets”, the statement adds.

The decision comes just two weeks after Argentine biodiesel producers were hit with similar tariffs.

Argentine business leaders in Washington are allegedly angry that the Macri government failed to lobby the US against the decision.

Higher tariffs on steel and aluminium will affect two companies in particular: Aluar and Techint.

President Macri travelled to Houston in April 2017 alongside Techint’s Paolo Rocca where they visited a steel tube factory hiring 1,500 locals workers. On that same visit, Macri met with his US counterpart Trump at the White House.

-TIMES/PERFIL

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