U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer told CNBC on Tuesday that the Trump administration is open to modifying the way its sweeping tariffs on steel and aluminum are applied, particularly to reduce the compliance load on affected businesses.
Greer acknowledged that the current implementation of the duties has created administrative challenges for companies. "You may want to sometimes adjust the way some of the tariffs are applied for compliance purposes," he said. "We've heard stories of companies that have had to hire extra people for compliance. We're not trying to have people do so much bean counting they're not running their company correctly."
Administration officials are said to be working to narrow the reach of the levies, which now extend beyond raw steel and aluminum and cover many finished products that incorporate those metals. While officials are exploring changes to the tariffs' application, Greer was clear that the central metal tariffs themselves are not on the chopping block.
"Clearly, those are going the right direction. They're going to stay in place," Greer said, describing the core metals duties as "very successful" in bolstering domestic industry.
The possible revisions come after businesses and trading partners raised concerns. Companies have reported difficulty in calculating the duties, and the European Union has sought changes as part of ongoing trade discussions with the United States, according to a Bloomberg report.
The White House has reportedly told firms that adjustments are being drafted, but Greer and administration officials have not provided specifics on what will change or when any new guidance might be issued. That leaves firms and trading partners awaiting further clarification on the scope and timing of any revisions.
The tariffs themselves trace back to actions taken last year, when the administration imposed a 50% levy on foreign steel and aluminum. Officials said the move targeted Chinese overcapacity, though the measure also affected major trading partners such as Canada, Mexico, South Korea and the European Union.
Implications for markets and industry
The administration's remarks signal an effort to balance the policy goal of protecting domestic metal producers with the practical compliance burdens placed on manufacturers and importers whose products contain steel and aluminum. Companies navigating the current tariff regime have faced increased administrative costs tied to calculating and documenting duties.