Rep. Stevens Sends Letter to Commerce Secretary Demanding Answers on Tariff Exemptions

WASHINGTON – Last week, Congresswoman Haley Stevens (MI-11) sent a letter to U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross demanding answers on how the Department tasked with promoting job creation and economic growth is responding to the Trump Administration’s trade policies which are causing direct harm to U.S. businesses, workers, and consumers. Specifically, Congresswoman Stevens demanded answers on the Department’s exemption process for Section 232 Steel and Aluminum Tariffs, which have negatively impacted Michigan businesses.

The Department of Commerce’s Inspector General recently published a memo warning about “a lack of transparency that contributes to the appearance of improper influence in decision-making for tariff exclusion requests.”

“As this Administration’s tariff-heavy trade strategy creates challenges for manufacturers in Michigan and around the country, I am concerned that the Department of Commerce, the agency tasked with promoting economic growth, is not offering adequate support to struggling American businesses,” wrote Congresswoman Stevens.  

“When the tariff exemption system was announced, the Department of Commerce predicted a 90-day processing time for a request. In the first year of the request process, nearly 76% of steel requests took longer than that estimate. Additionally, the Commerce Department’s Section 232 investigation into whether tariffs on autos and auto parts has been completed and delivered to the President. Additional tariffs on the auto sector will harm the hard-working American auto workers, parts suppliers and retailers, dealers, vehicle service providers, and millions of consumers that depend on a healthy and competitive U.S. auto industry,” added Congresswoman Stevens.

In the letter, Congresswoman Stevens demanded answers to the following questions:

• How many American companies, or companies that employ American workers, have contacted the Department of Commerce to apply for an exemption to tariffs that were put in place by this Administration?
• How many American companies, or companies that employ American workers, have been granted such an exemption?
• Are you aware of any companies that were forced to lay off American workers after the Department of Commerce rejected their application for a tariff exemption?
• What steps are being taken to ensure that the Department is doing everything possible to protect American businesses from the ongoing negative impacts of this Administration’s trade policies?

A copy of the letter can be found linked here.

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