Trump’s Global Steel and Aluminium Tariffs Take Effect Amid Escalating Trade War

U.S. President Donald Trump has officially implemented global tariffs on steel and aluminium, escalating trade tensions worldwide. Read more on the economic impact and global reactions.

The tariffs on steel and aluminum imposed by President Donald Trump have now been implemented, requiring US businesses importing these goods to pay a 25% tax.

The European Union has announced plans to implement counter-measures targeting €26 billion (£21.9 billion, $28.3 billion) worth of US goods as a “strong but proportionate” response.

According to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, tariffs are not intended to “punish” other countries. Instead, they address the US’s “national security concerns” related to steel and aluminum.

The UK’s Business Secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, describes the tariffs as “disappointing” and expresses that the UK is actively pursuing a trade agreement with the US.

China has stated that it will implement “all necessary measures” to protect its rights and interests. Meanwhile, Canada’s high commissioner to the UK has criticized what he describes as the “lawless trade world of Donald Trump.”

What are tariffs, who do they impact, and why is Trump implementing them? Find answers to these questions and more here.

Michael DiMarino manages Linda Tool, a small company based in Brooklyn with 17 employees that specializes in manufacturing aerospace components. All of the products they create involve some form of steel, much of which is sourced from American mills.

Nevertheless, since the tariff announcements, he has experienced an increase in his costs.

He expresses support for boosting manufacturing in the US, yet cautions that the president’s actions could backfire and ultimately harm the industry.

“It’s a challenging equation,” he says. “When my costs increase, I pass them on to my customers.”

“They implement higher prices by passing them onto consumers. Will the consumer be able to afford these increased costs, or will there be a decline in demand?”

A Democratic senator thinks the United States is on the path to a recession.

Delaware Senator Chris Coons, a Democrat, recently discussed the trade war on CNN and made some critical remarks directed at President Trump.

“I believe we are moving towards a recession due to Trump’s inconsistent approach of targeting our allies and imposing tariffs on all imports into the United States,” Coons stated.

He is creating a rift between the United States and our closest allies and trading partners.

Delaware exports more to Canada than anywhere else globally and imports more from there as well. The fluctuating double-digit tariffs are causing chaos in the markets.

A leader from an EU member state is scheduled to visit President Trump at the White House today, just hours after Brussels announced its decision to impose retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods.

The Irish Prime Minister, known as the Taoiseach, Michéal Martin, is anticipated to emphasize the connections between Ireland and the United States — spanning from ancestral links to economic relations.

The meeting is one of several annual events traditionally held in Washington around St. Patrick’s Day, which falls on March 17th.

Ireland’s economy significantly depends on investment from American multinational companies. In 2024, Ireland exported approximately €50 billion (£41.6 billion) more in goods to the US than it imported from there.

There are concerns in Ireland that the Trump administration might attempt to address what it perceives as a trade imbalance.

Ahead of his meeting in the Oval Office, Martin has highlighted what he calls an “increasingly two-way” trade relationship, noting that Ireland ranks as the sixth-largest source of foreign direct investment in the United States.