US President Donald Trump has announced plans to impose a 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum imports, starting from Monday. The tariffs will apply to Canada, Brazil, Mexico, South Korea, and Vietnam, according to data from the American Iron and Steel Institute.
The move is part of Trump’s ongoing trade policy strategy, which includes reciprocal tariffs on US trading partners. “Very simply, if they charge us, we charge them,” Trump said.
Canada is expected to be significantly affected by the tariffs, with two-thirds of its primary aluminum imported from Canada, according to the Aluminum Association. Canadian steel and aluminum support key industries in the US, including defence, shipbuilding, and auto.
The Canadian Steel Producers Association warned that the tariffs would devastate the sector and its workers. The move has been criticized as baseless and unwarranted.
This is not Trump’s first foray into trade policy, having imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum in 2018. However, this latest plan could run afoul of US commitments to the World Trade Organization, which requires member countries to offer the same tariff rates to all other members.
Experts warn that adopting a reciprocal system would result in varying tariff rates for different trading partners, upending global trade patterns. The move has also been described as the most significant trade policy change since the late 1940s.
Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/02/09/trump-tariff-steel-aluminum-reciprocal