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    Analysis

    Ethan Bernard, SMU Team

    February 13, 2025

    Final Thoughts

    Written by Ethan Bernard

    The time of the tariff is upon us. And the winds of free trade have come to a standstill. At least for the moment. So, what’s next? Well, we are always just one Truth Social post away from having to scrap everything and start from scratch. Or at least hit the delete key across what we thought we knew. This has been one of those days.

    Thirty-day reprieve last week from tariffs on Canada and Mexico. Followed by 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum for the whole world this week. And, quickly on its heels, now comes Trump’s announcement last night of reciprocal tariffs. We got further details today, but things are very much still “to be determined” at a later date. But it looks like they’re coming.

    Ethan Bernard

    Ethan Bernard is managing editor for Steel Market Update. He previously worked for American Metal Market as a copy editor in the New York office for two years, starting in 2008. Later, he copy edited AMM’s monthly magazine on a freelance basis from 2015 until 2017. With experience in financial copywriting and textbook publishing, he holds a BA in Comparative Literature from UC Berkeley, and an MFA in Creative Writing from New York University. He can be reached at ethan@steelmarketupdate.com or 724-759-7871.

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