In June 27th, the Xinhua News Agency reported that the American International Steel Association and its two member enterprises filed a lawsuit to the US International Trade Court on 27 day. The “clause 232” which the Trump administration imposed on imported steel products with 25% tariff is violated by the constitution, and asked the court to stop the implementation of the steel and iron tariff.
The International Steel Association of the United States issued a statement on the same day that the 232nd article of the 1962 Trade Expansion Act was a violation of the constitution, because it lacked clear principles to limit the power of the president. In accordance with the regulations, if the president considers it necessary to take measures to ensure that imports do not threaten or harm national security, will allow the president to impose “unrestricted” tariffs or other trade barriers.
Richard Chris, President of the United States International Steel Association, said that, in addition to giving the president “open choice” to deal with any threat to imports, the “clause 232” also allowed the president to basically incorporate any impact on the US economy into “national security”.
In addition, the international iron and Steel Association also prosecuted “clause 232” in violation of the principle of separation of power and the balance mechanism of constitutional protection, since there is no legal provision to allow judicial review of the president’s decision on the basis of “clause 232”.
Prior to the “232 clause”, the Trump administration imposed tariffs on imported steel and aluminum products on the grounds of national security. More than 270 national and local commercial organizations in the United States have also published a joint letter to support Congress to pass legislation to restrict the president’s power to impose tariffs on national