Trump Signs 25% Hike On Steel, Aluminium Tariff

The United States President, Donald Trump, has signed an executive order for 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports into the country on Monday “without exceptions or exemptions”.

This move will help the struggling industries in the United just but will increases the risk of a multi-front trade war.

Trump signed proclamations raising the United States tariff rate on aluminum to 25% from his previous 10% rate and eliminating country exceptions and quota deals as well as hundreds of thousands of product-specific tariff exclusions for both metals.

The tariffs will apply to millions of tons of steel and aluminum imports from countries like Canada, Mexico, South Korea, Brazil and other countries that had been entering the U.S. duty free under the carve-outs.

“Today I’m simplifying our tariffs on steel and aluminium,” Trump said Monday in the Oval Office. “It’s 25 per cent without exceptions or exemptions.”

“It’s 25% without exceptions or exemptions. That’s all countries, no matter where it comes from, all countries,” he added.

“Our nation requires steel and aluminium to be made in America, not in foreign lands. We need to create in order to protect our country’s future,” Trump said as he signed the orders.

“As of March 12, 2025, all imports of aluminium articles and derivative aluminium articles from Argentina, Australia, Canada, Mexico, EU countries, and the UK shall be subject to the additional ad valorem tariff,” he added.

Trump issued a separate order for steel, which said it would apply to all imports from the same countries the aluminium tariffs hit, as well as to Brazil, Japan, and South Korea.

Trump also signaled that he would look at imposing additional tariffs on automobiles, pharmaceuticals, and computer chips.