Africa and The Middle East

A subsidiary of a major Turkish steel manufacturer is challenging the administration’s decision last August to ratchet up Section 232 tariffs on steel from Turkey, arguing the action fell outside of the president’s powers under the 1962 Trade Expansion Act and asking to be repaid.

The Trump administration will have its hands full in 2019, with new talks slated to begin with Brussels, Tokyo, London and potentially more, as well as the implementation of a revised deal with South Korea. The fate of the U.S.-Mexico -Canada Agreement will also be determined next year by a new Congress.

The AFL-CIO had urged the administration to end the country’s benefits due to the practice of slavery in the country.

Turkey on Wednesday claimed the U.S. would be in violation of World Trade Organization rules if it decided to strip Ankara of benefits under the Generalized System of Preferences.

The American Institute for International Steel is citing President Trump's decision to double Section 232 tariffs on Turkish imports as another reason the statute should be modified.

Perdue: “This is a good harbinger of the kind of relationship that can be developed. We hope there are other things we can cooperate on to expand markets around the globe.”