According to Bloomberg, the administration plans to conclude the talks by the end of April, but the tariffs may in the meantime still go into effect for some of the countries seeking an exemption, Bloomberg said.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection will being collecting the tariffs at 12:01 a.m. Friday.  The Commerce Department published guidelines for companies seeking product exclusions on Monday.

In a separate development, executives from America’s leading steelmakers testified before the Congressional Steel Caucus on Wednesday and told lawmakers that the Section 232 tariffs will help the industry.

"I’ll get straight to the point – the president got it right.  By imposing tariffs on imported steel, President Trump is sending a strong message that dumping steel into our market will no longer be tolerated," Nucor chairman and chief executive John Ferriola said in written testimony.   

"The president’s action will … help get the industry on a more sustainable path long-term.  While the industry experienced improved financial results in 2017, after-tax profits still lag far behind most other manufacturing sectors.  The financial results we achieved last year will only be sustainable by aggressively addressing unfairly traded imports, as the president is doing."