While the 25 % steel tariff as a rule applies to all countries worldwide , there are nevertheless four countries that successfully negotiated a permanent exemption from the steel tariff with the Trump administration . Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull successfully lobbied President Trump to get an exemption at the 2017 G20 Hamburg summit , arguing that " w e do this steel that ’s specialty steel . We ’re the only one that produces it in the world . You ’ve got to let us out . You ’ve got a $ 40 billion trade surplus with us . We ’re military allies with you . We ’re in every battle with you . ” The legal basis cited in Trump 's tariff order is Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 which under certain circumstances allows the president to impose tariffs based on the recommendation from the U.S. Secretary of Commerce if " an article is being imported into the United States in such quantities or under such circumstances as to threaten or impair the national security . " This section is rarely used , and has never been invoked since the World Trade Organization was established in 1995
2017 G20 Hamburg summit
2017 G20 Hamburg summit
Trump tariffs