Trump Tariff Exemptions Uncertain as Companies Seek Safety Valve

Companies that expect to be hard-hit by US tariffs on goods from Canada, China and Mexico are starting to prepare their arguments in hopes of getting an exclusion from the duties.

President Donald Trump imposed an additional 10% tariff on China that went into effect Tuesday, while an additional 25% rate on imports from Canada and Mexico are on pause until March 4. The administration hasn’t yet described how or whether companies will be able to request carve-outs.

The president says tariffs are aimed at stopping the flow of fentanyl and illegal immigration and encouraging more US manufacturing, but they ...