President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that he will impose a 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum imports into the United States, effective Monday. The announcement was made aboard Air Force One as the president traveled to New Orleans to attend the 2025 Super Bowl. He also revealed plans to introduce “reciprocal tariffs” on Tuesday or Wednesday, which would take effect immediately. These reciprocal measures would apply import duties on products from countries that levy tariffs on U.S. goods.
“If they charge us, we charge them … every country,” Trump said. “If they are charging us 130% and we’re charging them nothing, it’s not going to stay that way.”
The European Commission responded on Monday, stating that it had not yet received official notification of the tariffs. However, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot indicated that the European Union (EU) would “replicate” any tariffs imposed by the U.S. “There is no hesitation when it comes to defending our interests,” Barrot said during an interview with broadcaster TF1, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP).
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Germany echoed the EU’s stance, with Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck emphasizing that Europe would respond in a “united and determined manner.” Habeck warned, “In the long term, a tariff conflict only has losers.”
This is not the first time President Trump has implemented tariffs on steel and aluminum. During his first term, he imposed a 25% tariff on steel and a 10% tariff on aluminum, though he later granted duty-free quotas to several trading partners.
Earlier this month, the president authorized a wave of tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China, three of the U.S.’s closest trading partners. Last week, he agreed to a 30-day pause on threats to impose 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada, as well as a 10% tariff on Canadian oil, natural gas, and electricity.
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President Trump has long been a proponent of tariffs, arguing that they are necessary to encourage greater cooperation from other nations in addressing issues such as illegal immigration and fentanyl smuggling.
He has also framed tariffs as a tool to boost domestic manufacturing and generate revenue for the federal government.
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