Donald Trump has expanded tariffs on all steel and aluminium imports into the United States, escalating his campaign to reshape global trade rules. The new measures, which impose a 25% tariff on these materials, aim to protect domestic industries but have sparked immediate backlash from international partners, including the European Union.
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The tariffs not only target raw steel and aluminium but also extend to a wide range of products made from these materials, such as nuts, bolts, bulldozer blades, and even soda cans. In response, the European Commission announced counter-tariffs on $28 billion worth of American goods, to take effect next month, marking a significant development in the ongoing trade dispute.
Canada, Brazil, Mexico, and South Korea, among the largest suppliers of these metals to the US, are expected to be the most impacted by the new levies. Meanwhile, in an unexpected series of events, Ontario Premier Doug Ford briefly suspended his province’s 25% electricity surcharge after Trump’s tariff announcement, although Trump later withdrew his retaliation, leading to a day of political U-turns.
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In related news, Trump posed with one of Elon Musk’s Tesla cars outside the White House, expressing his support for the embattled billionaire adviser. Despite these developments, a new poll by CNN/SSRS shows that a majority of Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of tariffs, with 61% against his policies on this front, although his stance on immigration has seen improved approval ratings.
