S. Korea to consider WTO petition against proposed U.S. steel tarriffs

South Korea's trade ministry said Monday it will consider filing a complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO) if the United States opts for levying heavy duties on steel products from a selected list of countries.

US President Donald Trump Source: Getty Image

The U.S. Department of Commerce on Friday recommended that President Trump levy a tariff of 24 percent on all steel imports or a quota for steel imports of 63 percent of last year's level based on national security grounds, using the seldom-used Section 232 of the 1962 Trade Expansion Act.

Another option is levying a 53 percent tariff on steel imports from 12 countries including South Korea, Brazil and China.

Seoul's inclusion in the list is frustrating since other close allies of the U.S. such as Canada, Japan and Germany, were excluded from the extra tariff though they are among the top 10 steel exporters.

"We will actively consider filing a WTO complaint if (the U.S.) decides to impose duties on the select 12 nations," Kang Sung-cheon, deputy minister of trade, said in a briefing. "It won't be easy (to get exemption from the list)."

Political commentator Jung-sik Seo analyses the implication of the US move.