Quotas Make a Comeback as Countries Seek U.S. Tariff Exemptions

Administration seeks to replicate a South Korea quota deal with other countries; industry groups fear being unable to obtain specialty goods

The Trump administration’s efforts to block imports are bringing back a long-forgotten headache for manufacturers: the quota.

U.S. officials have so far largely relied on tariffs—essentially taxes at the border—in their efforts to reduce imports of steel, aluminum and Chinese goods. But some countries are accepting hard limits, or quotas, on their shipments as they strike deals with the Trump administration to avoid the tariffs.

The...