Trade Cases

Trump could levy tariffs on auto imports in April: Report
Written by Ethan Bernard
February 18, 2025
President Donald Trump said last week that he could place tariffs on auto imports, according to an article in Politico.
While signing executive orders in the Oval Office, he responded to a reporter’s question on possible auto tariffs: “Maybe around April 2,” the article said.
The president did not give any further details on levy amounts or how they would work in concert with previously announced tariffs.
Last Thursday, Trump said the US would be “flooded with jobs” because of his tariffs, as reported by Fox News.
“If you build here, you have no tariffs whatsoever. And I think that’s what’s going to happen. I think our country is going to be flooded with jobs,” he said in the Oval Office.
As previously reported, Trump announced his “Fair and Reciprocal Plan” on trade last Thursday, which would see reciprocal tariffs placed on US trading partners.
For a summary of the tariff situation thus far, check out Lewis Leibowitz’s column from Feb. 16 here.

Ethan Bernard
Read more from Ethan BernardLatest in Trade Cases

Industry piles on new Section 232 steel derivative inclusion requests
The Department of Commerce received 97 submissions from producers, manufacturers, and groups seeking Section 232 tariff coverage for steel and aluminum derivative products.

Price on Trade: New EU steel tariffs don’t mean the US should weaken its stance
Any steel imports into the EU that exceed the new, lower quota level would be subject to a 50% tariff, which represents a major increase from the EU’s current 25% out-of-quota tariff. This move would largely align the EU’s steel tariff rate with Canada and the United States.

Global steel forum sets 2026 framework deadline as US ups pressure on excess capacity
Global steelmakers sounded the alarm Friday over the deepening excess steelmaking capacity crisis. Ministers at the Global Forum on Steel Excess Capacity (GFSEC) in Gqeberha, South Africa, pledged to...

CRU: China’s indirect steel exports find new destination markets
The boom in China’s direct steel exports has not stopped this year, even with a rise in protectionist measures globally. The increase is driven by...

U.S. Steel sues Algoma over iron pellet shipments
U.S. Steel is suing Algoma over the Canadian flat-rolled producer's rejection of iron pellet shipments, arguing it has breached its contract.