Some U.S. steel industry leaders have backed the Biden administration’s steel tariff-rate quota agreement with Japan, citing the “melt and pour” provision as one that could help prevent steel sector circumvention. The agreement will allow up to 1.25 million tons of Japanese steel imports per year into the U.S. market without being subject to Section 232 tariffs, starting April 1. The “melt and pour” requirement is one of the provisions included in the agreement, which aims to restrict imports from other nations that use Japan as a transit country. The Steel Manufacturers Association (SMA), the United Steel Workers (USW), and the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) said that such a provision would help to prevent circumvention and transshipment of steel products. “Melted and poured requirements will ensure that steel imports from Japan are actually produced there, which will help stem circumvention and allow workers in both countries an opportunity …