Trump tariffs: new duties on steel and aluminium anger US allies

Donald Trump has delivered on his promise to increase import tariffs on steel and aluminium, raising the spectre of a full-blown trade war.

The import duties - 25% on steel and 10% on aluminium - were signed off by the US president yesterday, despite fierce opposition from allied nations and many in his own party.

“We have to protect and build our steel and aluminum industries, while at the same time showing great flexibility and cooperation toward those who are really friends of ours, both on a trade basis and a military basis,” Trump said at a signing ceremony attended by steel and aluminum workers.

The move has “spooked markets, prompted his chief economist’s resignation, rattled major US allies and widened a rift with establishment Republicans”, says CNN.

China described the decision as a “serious attack on normal international trade order”, while France’s economy minister Bruno Le Maire warned there were “only losers” in a trade war.

The EU has already threatened to retaliate by imposing huge levies on iconic American products. Levi jeans, bourbon whiskey and Harley Davidson motorbikes were on a draft list of US goods to be hit with a 25% import tax, EU Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmstrom said this week.

Gareth Stace, the director of industry group UK Steel, said the tariffs “would have a profound and detrimental impact” on the UK steel sector.

“The sector is in the midst of a fragile recovery following years of considerable turmoil, it would be utterly devastating if this were to be undermined,” Stace told Sky News.

There were signs of softening amid the tough talk from Washington DC, however. Canada and Mexico will be exempt from the tariffs amid ongoing Nafta negotiations, and other US allies will be allowed to petition for similar exemptions.

Although this “may keep trading partners from unleashing immediate retaliation, it could all backfire by antagonising American allies”, says Bloomberg. “Countries refused special treatment could still hit back against the US with trade barriers of their own down the road.”