The US Department of Commerce has suspended 232 customs tariffs on Ukrainian steel for a year, "Economic Truth" reports, citing a statement from the Agency.
The Head of the Ukrainian Ministry of Economic Development Yulia Svyrydenko noted that this is a 25% tariff imposed in 2018 by the Donald Trump administration.
According to the US Department of Commerce, "the metallurgical industry of Ukraine is crucial to the country's economic strength, employing one in 13 Ukrainians. Some of Ukraine's largest steel companies were among those most affected by Putin's barbarism, and the Mariupol steel plant became a symbol of Ukraine's determination to resist russian aggression".
Many Ukrainian metallurgical plants continued to pay their workers, provide food aid, and shelter for workers during hostilities. Despite the war, some of the plants even resumed production, according to the US Department of State.
Therefore, the American side decided to support "one of the most important sectors of the economy for the economic well-being of Ukraine".
"For metallurgical plants to continue to be an economic lifeline for the people of Ukraine, they must be able to export their steel. Today's announcement is a signal to the Ukrainian people that we want to help them prosper in the face of Putin's aggression, and that their work will create a stronger Ukraine today and in the future, "said US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo.
In April, the European Commission proposed to suspend for one year the collection of import duties on all Ukrainian exports to the EU. And Great Britain abolished all customs duties and quotas on imports of Ukrainian goods without exception.