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.”
US Watchdog Warns of 'Improper Influence' in Tariff Process
