U.S. President Donald Trump has imposed a 25pct tariff on all steel and aluminum imports, eliminating previous exemptions and quota agreements, according to a White House statement.
The proclamation increases the aluminum tariff from 10pct to 25pct and removes country-specific exemptions, product exclusions, and alternative agreements. The reforms introduce strict “melted and poured” standards, extend tariffs to key downstream products, and crack down on tariff misclassification and duty evasion.
Countries previously exempted, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, the EU, Ukraine, and the UK, will now be subject to the full tariff rate. Additionally, a new North American standard will require steel imports to be “melted and poured” and aluminum to be “smelted and cast” within the region to prevent the circumvention of tariffs on minimally processed Chinese and Russian metals.
The tariff extension includes downstream products such as fabricated structural steel, aluminum extrusions, and steel strand for pre-stressed concrete, a White House official stated.
According to the American Iron and Steel Institute, finished steel imports accounted for 23pct in the U.S. market in 2024. Canada remained the largest supplier at 6.55 mln tons, down 5pct from the previous year. Brazil increased exports by 14pct to 4.49 mln tons, while Mexico’s shipments fell 16pct to 3.51 mln tons. South Korea exported 2.8 mln tons, a 7pct rise, and Vietnam recorded the highest growth, surging 143pct to 1.36 mln tons.
