Overview

• President Donald Trump announced new 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, removing all previous exemptions for countries including Canada, the EU, Mexico, and the UK.
• The move, justified under national security grounds, marks a significant escalation in trade tensions with U.S. allies and trading partners.
• Canada, the largest supplier of these metals to the U.S., and the EU have vowed to implement retaliatory measures, calling the tariffs unjustified and harmful.
• South Korea and the UK have signaled a more cooperative approach, engaging in discussions with the U.S. to mitigate potential impacts on their industries.
• The policy is part of Trump's broader agenda to address the U.S. trade deficit, which reached $920 billion in 2024, and target practices perceived as benefiting Chinese producers through intermediary nations.