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US Watchdog Warns of 'Improper Influence' in Tariff Process

Associated Press

   WASHINGTON - A federal watchdog is criticizing the way the Trump
   administration handles taxes on imported steel and aluminum, saying a
   lack of transparency creates the appearance of ``improper influence.''
   The Commerce Department's inspector general is raising questions about
   a process that lets steel and aluminum importers request relief from
   tariffs imposed in March 2018.
   Other companies -- mostly U.S. steel and aluminum producers that
   benefit from the tariffs -- can object to the exemption requests.
   In an Oct. 28 report, the IG said Commerce officials had discussed the
   requests with ``interested parties'' without mentioning the exchanges
   in official records. It also said Commerce had made it harder to get
   exemptions after hearing from a tariff supporter.
   Commerce said it was taking the IG's critique ``seriously'' and planned
   "to further improve transparency."

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