The latest episode of “Talking Trade” features Sarah Helton, Michael Best Strategies’ partner and trade expert.
Helton, included by The Hill in its ranking of top lobbyists since 2022, said the Trump administration is using tariff policies to draw companies to set up in the U.S.
“We’ve understood, from the very beginning, that President Trump has keen interests on anyone that wants to come to the United States and invest, come,” she said. “Including U.S. and foreign manufacturers, and he has been using tariffs as the initial tool to kickstart that discussion and then impose further requirements.”
One of those tariff policies is Trump’s decision to use Section 232 tariffs on derivatives, which Helton said “could very likely be more permanent in nature …depending on the Supreme Court case.
“So when you’re opening it up to any producers of derivatives the …it could open up to all manufacturers in the United States in more or less ways, of those derivatives,” she said.
But questions still remain around how producers of final products and derivatives will know which imports are actually subject to tariffs and if there is a quantity threshold for which items need to be reported.
“We have a lot of components and we have a lot of finished goods that are now defined as derivatives, and without the clear understanding of what are the thresholds around, or requirements around, how we actually define a derivative, ” Helton said.
Helton also noted investigations by the Department of Commerce around whether personal protective equipment, medical equipment and medical supplies are subject to tariffs or if they should be considered threats to national security. The most interesting part of the investigation will be on medical machinery and robotics, she argued.
“So, as, you know, the Trump administration is really looking to be able to support domestic investment and expansion of domestic production. Those equipment, that robotics, may not be available here, but it’s necessary to be imported to achieve those goals,” she said.
