Trump to Impose 25% Tariffs on US Steel, Aluminum Imports

President Donald Trump announced plans to impose 25-percent tariffs on steel and aluminum imports to the United States, marking the latest in a series of trade levies that have become central to his economic policy. Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that the tariffs, which will be officially announced on Monday, will apply to “any steel coming into the United States,” including aluminum imports.

Trump’s move to impose these tariffs follows a similar strategy used during his 2017-2021 presidency, where he introduced such measures to protect US industries that he believed were facing unfair competition from countries in Asia and Europe. Canada, the largest source of steel and aluminum imports to the US, has already been threatened with tariffs by Trump. Other major steel suppliers to the US include Brazil, Mexico, and South Korea.

Additionally, Trump revealed that he would announce “reciprocal tariffs” to mirror the tariffs other countries impose on US products. He stated, “Every country will be reciprocal,” with a detailed announcement expected later this week.

Trump has previously used tariffs as a weapon in trade negotiations. During his presidency, he imposed levies on China, Mexico, and Canada to address trade imbalances and to protect American manufacturing. In particular, tariffs against China remain a major point of contention, with tariffs of up to 25% imposed on $525 billion worth of Chinese goods. In response, China has targeted US products such as coal and liquefied natural gas, imposing new tariffs on approximately $14 billion of US exports.

The US trade deficit, which reached nearly $920 billion last year, remains a point of focus for Trump. He has made reducing the trade deficit with major trading partners like China and Japan a key component of his economic agenda. In a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Trump warned that Japan could face tariffs unless it works to bring the US trade deficit with Japan to zero.

On the global stage, Trump has also proposed tariffs against the European Union (EU) and intends to soon announce “reciprocal tariffs” for the region. French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking on CNN, warned that such tariffs could harm both sides, increasing costs and creating inflation in the US. Macron emphasized that Europe should not be the primary target of US tariffs, suggesting that China should be the focus.

Trump has often framed his tariff policies as a necessary step to restore America’s global economic standing, even as critics argue that the costs will ultimately be passed on to American consumers. The President, however, has insisted that foreign exporters, not US consumers, will bear the brunt of the tariff costs.

As the US continues to use tariffs as a tool in its trade policy, the international community is bracing for the potential economic impacts of these levies, which could have far-reaching consequences for both global markets and diplomatic relations.