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    CRU

    April 4, 2025

    CRU: Trump’s sweeping tariffs could derail the US met coal industry

    Written by Banmeet Khurmi

    The US government’s ‘Liberation Day tariffs’ intend to reshore industrial production and rebalance lopsided trade balances. This could lead to US metallurgical coal exporters (many already high-cost swing producers) being priced out of the market.

    Most US coal production and employment occurs within Donald Trump’s political heartlands. Any short-term upside to domestic steel production from tariffs cannot match the sheer scale of US metallurgical coal that could become unprofitable to export.

    Banmeet Khurmi

    Read more from Banmeet Khurmi

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    CRU: Global finished steel prices diverge, US the rare bright spot

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