Huttig Building Products has filed a suit against the Trump administration’s extended Sec 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum derivatives. The importer’s complaint to the US Court of International Trade (CIT) comes days after the court granted a reprieve in a similar case to PrimeSource Building Products.
In its complaint to the CIT, Huttig has alleged that the US Department of Commerce and Secretary of Commerce contravened the rules for imposing such tariffs. Commerce not only failed to investigate the need for the tariffs, it did not publish its findings for industry review, as stipulated by the rules, Huttig has alleged. Consequently, the importer didn’t have an opportunity to provide its inputs into the decision.
Huttig has further alleged that Commerce’s negligence will negatively impact its business.
The derivatives importer has asked the CIT to prevent Commerce from implementing the tariffs, noting the derivatives upon which they have been imposed comprise a small portion of the products’ US market share. Moreover, Sec 232 tariffs are intended for products that threaten the nation’s security, but these derivatives don’t meet that burden of proof. Huttig has also asked the CIT to order the Custom and Border Protection to refund any duties owed.
The CIT previously ruled in favour of PrimeSource and gave the company a reprieve from these duties.