Former US President Donald Trump announced new tariffs on all steel and aluminum imported into the United States, claiming they will be imposed at a rate of 25%. The announcement was made during a flight from Florida to New Orleans, where Trump was headed to attend the Super Bowl. Trump stated that he will be taking further steps on tariffs this week, and that "a 25% tariff will be placed on all steel coming into the United States."
Trump also announced that he will be unveiling a reciprocal tariff plan on Monday and Tuesday, stating, "It's very simple, if they're putting tariffs on us, we're putting tariffs on them." He added that the new tariffs will be implemented immediately.
Trump has long complained about the European Union's (EU) 10% tariff on car imports, which he claims is much higher than the US's 2.5% tariff on cars. He has repeatedly lamented, "Europe doesn't take our cars, they send millions of cars over to the West Atlantic every year."
Canada is the largest exporter of steel to the US, followed by Brazil and Mexico. South Korea, Vietnam, Japan, and Germany are also among the top steel exporters to the US.
Canada is also the largest supplier of aluminum to the US, accounting for 79% of total aluminum imports in the first 11 months of 2024. Canadian Innovation Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne stated on social media, "Canadian steel and aluminum support key sectors in the US, like defense, shipbuilding, and automotive. We will continue to defend Canada, our workers, and our industries."
Trump had previously imposed a 25% tariff on steel and a 10% tariff on aluminum during his first term, but later granted exemptions to some trading partners, including Canada, Mexico, and Brazil. Former President Joe Biden later negotiated quota arrangements with the UK, EU, and Japan to avoid tariffs. Trump's recent announcement did not clarify the fate of these arrangements.