Bush imposes 8-30% steel tariffs under Section 201 safeguard

President George W. Bush announced on March 5, 2002, that the United States would impose tariffs of 8 to 30% on most imported steel products, citing a Section 201 International Trade Commission finding of serious injury to domestic producers. Commerce Secretary Donald Evans and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick recommended the action after steel imports surged following industry restructuring. The tariffs took effect March 20 and were projected to remain until 2005. Eight trading partners, including the European Union, Japan, China, Brazil, South Korea, Norway, New Zealand, and Switzerland, immediately challenged the tariffs at the World Trade Organization.