US President Donald Trump has ordered a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum imports, stepping up his efforts to protect key US industries.
The tariffs will apply to all steel and aluminum imports from the US, including from Canada and Mexico, the country’s biggest suppliers of the metals.
While the new duties will cover finished metal products, no exemptions will be offered to US trading partners, with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese saying Trump had agreed to consider exempting Australia from the tariffs.
The measures are aimed at quashing what White House officials say are efforts by countries such as Russia and China to circumvent existing tariffs.
