US Tariffs on Steel and Aluminum and their conformity with the GATT

Seminar paper from the year 2020 in the subject Business economics - Economic Policy, grade: 1,3, University of applied sciences, Gütersloh, language: English, abstract: “I am a Tariff Man. When people or countries come in to raid the great wealth of our Nation, I want them to pay for the privilege of doing so.” These are the words of the current president of the US, Donald Trump. During the election for president in 2016 hemade numerous protectionist election promises. One of his election promises was to create new jobs in the American industry. American companies should purchase on the domestic markets to strengthen the manufacturing sector and create jobs. Added to this is Trump's aversion to free trade agreements which makes him a supporter of tariffs. These two points are in line with the development of US tariffs on imports. Looking at the steel and aluminum industry, the USA introduced Tariffs during the term of Donald Trump. The import tariff on aluminum currently equals 10 % and the tariff on steel25 % of the goods value. However, the US is as well one of the main responsible states in the creation of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) which provides free trade and has been a contracting party of the trade agreement since 1948 which in other words means since the very first hour. The question in this context is to what extent tariffs and the GATT are compatible with each other and how it is possible for a contracting party to the GATT to levy tariffs at all. [...]