US Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) and US Representatives sent a letter Friday to US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, requesting the administration to expedite negotiations of additional steel and aluminum exemption agreements with US allies and partners, including Colombia.
"We respectfully request that you expedite negotiations of additional exemption agreements with our allies and partners, both in South America and around the world, to isolate the PRC [People's Republic of China] and other bad actors to fully address this global problem," the letter said.
According to the letter, negotiations with Colombia should be a priority. "Under outgoing President Santos, Colombia pledged to cooperate on addressing a variety of deficiencies in the treatment of certain US industries to strengthen the US-Colombia relationship," it said.
US Senator Rubio said it is essential that the government continue to work with President Ivan Duque and his administration to ensure Colombian commitments are upheld. Efforts to secure mutually-beneficial trade in steel and aluminum can provide a new opportunity to facilitate and secure US trade goals with our vital Colombian partners, he said.
Rubio asked the government "to engage in negotiations with the Colombian government on country exemptions related to steel and aluminum that include effective and enforceable controls on transshipments, and that ensure continued progress by the Duque Administration in meeting the important trade commitments made earlier this year by the previous administration."
US Representatives that were also included in the letter were Carlos Curbelo (R-FL), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), and Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL).
US President Donald Trump on March 23 imposed the steel and aluminum tariffs on imports from all countries except South Korea, Argentina, Australia and Brazil. Colombia currently is subjected to 25% tariff on steel and 10% tariff on aluminum.
