President Donald Trump held off on imposing tariffs on imported robotics and industrial machinery, directing officials to pursue negotiations with trading partners instead, according to a proclamation filed Wednesday.
Trump concurred with the Commerce Department's Section 232 finding that imports of robotics, industrial machinery and their components threaten to impair national security, according to the proclamation.
The proclamation directs the Commerce secretary and the US Trade Representative to jointly pursue agreements with trading partners they deem appropriate and to update the president within 180 days. Depending on the outcome of the talks, Trump said he may consider alternative remedies, including tariffs, duties, quotas and fees, as well as a program to incentivize new US production of robotics and machinery.
The Commerce secretary will continue to monitor imports and inform the president of any circumstances that may warrant further action under Section 232, the proclamation said.
