A Commerce Department proposal would add 14 derivative products, including electric conductor cable, welding-machine parts and cranes, to Section 232 tariffs, potentially lifting some goods to a 25% rate and threatening South Korean cable exports.
The United States is seeking public comment on a Commerce Department proposal to expand the range of metal-related products covered by Section 232 tariffs, a US national-security trade measure. The proposed list includes 14 derivative products such as electric conductor cable, parts for welding machines and welding equipment, and self-propelled cranes and mobile lifting frames. Industry and government officials cited in the newer report said the department appears likely to move some products to a 25% tariff in the near term, though the proposal remains under review. For South Korea, electric conductor cable is seen as the most significant item, with exports to the US reported at about $697 million last year, and companies including LS Cable & System, Taihan Cable & Solution and Iljin Electric potentially affected. The move could raise import costs and disrupt industrial procurement, supply contracts and supply chains, with smaller cable makers viewed as more vulnerable than larger exporters with US production or stronger pricing power.