Espaillat, González-Colón Urge Exemption of the Dominican Republic from Steel & Aluminum Tariffs to Help Ongoing Recovery in Puerto Rico. WASHINGTON, DC – Representative Adriano Espaillat (NY-D) and Representative Jenniffer González-Colón (PR-R) sent a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo urging that the Dominican Republic be exempt from Section 232 steel and aluminum tariffs in order to help facilitate the ongoing hurricane recovery efforts in Puerto Rico.
“The Dominican Republic is an important ally of the United States, with robust commercial and security ties through CAFTA-DR and the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative. Importantly, the Dominican Republic is a critical exporter of steel and aluminum to Puerto Rico, as Puerto Rico’s local economy does not produce steel. Exempting the Dominican Republic from the steel and aluminum tariffs under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act will support hurricane recovery efforts while also bolstering our relations with an important partner in the Caribbean,” stated the Members. “Exempting the Dominican Republic from Section 232 steel and aluminum tariffs would directly assist Puerto Rico’s recovery efforts by providing the island with the commodities necessary to rebuild its critical infrastructure. The United States has already exempted several countries from Section 232 steel and aluminum tariffs—including Brazil, South Korea, Argentina, Australia, Canada, Mexico, the European Union, Japan, and the United Kingdom.
“It is critical for this administration to take additional action to advance Puerto Rico’s recovery efforts from these devastating hurricanes. In this spirit, we request that you exempt the Dominican Republic from Section 232 steel and aluminum tariffs,” concluded the Members.
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