President Donald Trump announced tariffs of 25 percent on all steel and aluminum imports, including those from USMCA countries Canada and Mexico. The 47th president previously announced, then paused, tariffs on all products from the neighboring countries.
The tariffs also include finished steel metal products.
Trump said the moves were necessary to keep countries such as Russia and China from circumventing existing restrictions. The president directed U.S. customs to increase oversight at the borders to prevent the misclassification of steel products.
“Essentially, we’re putting on a 25 percent tariff, without exception, on all aluminum and all steel, and it’s going to mean a lot of businesses are going to be opening in the United States,” President Trump said.
The tariffs received a mostly positive response from U.S.-based trade groups.
“The Steel Manufacturers Association applauds President Trump for putting the American steel industry and its workers first by imposing a 25 percent tariff on all steel imports. President Trump understands that America’s steel industry is the backbone of our economy. A thriving domestic steel industry is critical to U.S. national, energy and economic security,” said Philip K. Bell, president of the Steel Manufacturers Association. “By imposing a 25 percent tariff on steel imports, President Trump is leveling the playing field for American manufacturers and workers and helping America defeat direct threats to our jobs.”
"We appreciate President Trump’s continued focus on strong trade actions to support the aluminum industry in the United States. These actions helped lead to more than $10 billion in industry investment since 2016. In order for these investments to be successful and for American firms to make the cars, trucks, beverage cans, fighter jets, body armor and more that our industry provides, we need ready and affordable access to metal. Today, there is not enough smelting capacity in the United States to supply the growing aluminum industry with the input materials it needs,” said Charles Johnson, president and CEO of the Aluminum Association.
The Metals Service Center Institute, which represents companies across all of North America, noted the organization and its leadership have continually argued shipments from Canada and Mexico should be exempt from the penalties.