Category: Features

President Trump said he has no plans to create exemptions on the recently enacted steel and aluminum tariffs, according to media reports.

Is a fissure opening up between manufacturers and the mills on President Trump's tariffs?

US rig counts continue to hover slightly above multi-year lows, while Canadian activity is entering a seasonal decline after recently reaching a seven-year high.

International trade attorney Alan Price sat down with SMU to unpack the latest developments in Trump’s tariff merry-go-round.

A quick way to catch up on what you might have missed.

Following December’s 11-month low, total heating and cooling equipment shipments rebounded 8% in January, according to the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute.

The US Trade Representative (USTR) has drafted a proposal targeting the Chinese shipbuilding industry by setting elevated port fees for any maritime shipping company associated with Chinese-built vessels.

President Trump’s tariffs are aimed in large part at bringing manufacturing back to the United States. In theory, it’s simple enough: Want to avoid a big tariff? Make it in the US!

The United States has officially reinstated undiluted Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum as of Wednesday, . All imports of the metals, as well as some derivative products, now face a 25% tax when entering the US.

Canada and the European Union are retaliating against what they deem to be unjustified tariffs on steel and aluminum by the United States.

Domestic steel trade associations, manufacturing groups, and the United Steelworkers (USW) union had mixed reactions to the implementation of new Section 232 tariffs without exclusions on Wednesday. Trade groups representing steel mills broadly supported President Trump’s actions, while the USW and some groups representing manufacturers were more critical. AISI Kevin Dempsey, president and CEO of […]

The volume of finished steel entering the US market in January climbed to the highest level recorded in two and a half years.

What are steel buyers saying this week about prices, demand, the import market, the evolving tariff situation, and more?

Ternium Mexico wants the Commerce Department to delay making its final decision in the ongoing corrosion-resistant steel dumping investigation.

With the tariff craziness showing no signs of abating, we take you on a tour of the current situation.

“CBP expects full compliance from the trade community for accurate reporting and payment of the additional duties. CBP will take enforcement action on non-compliance," the agency said in a March 7 bulletin.

Section 232 tariffs are expected to go into effect March 12.

Raw steel mill output rebounded last week after falling to one of the lowest levels of the year, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI). Production is now at the second-highest weekly rate recorded so far in 2025.

The penalties are expected to be reinstated on Wednesday, March 12. 

One thing we've learned from our survey here at SMU: When prices are rising, people have a lot to say. You can be assured that with our most recent survey, the comments were coming in fast and furious.

The administration’s trade rollercoaster is moving at record speeds, running along the rails of innovation and expansion. But it can be confusing and difficult to keep up with. US manufacturers that follow these developments closely could benefit from the ride. Companies that miss new updates, or fail to accurately interpret their duty liability, could be left feeling queasy. Some rollercoasters are not for the faint of heart, and this one is a bit like Space Mountain. We are all riding without much ability to see the next turn or drop.

Ten US importers are on the hook to pay two years’ worth of anti-dumping and countervailing duties that US Customs says they had tried to illegally evade.

Steel imports ended 2024 on a low note, with November trade falling to a one-year low and December seeing a modest 3% recovery. Then as the new year began, import volumes spiked.

SMU interviews JSW USA CEO Robert Simon.

US rig counts remain slightly above multi-year lows, while Canadian activity is experiencing a seasonal decline from a recent seven-year high.

SMU’s Buyers’ Sentiment Indices both declined this week but remain strong. This indicates buyers are still optimistic about their companies' ability for success.

Wonder what the fallout from all the Trump tariffs might be? A manufacturing renaissance? A post-WWII order in ashes? Or something a little more down the middle? Then register for our next Community Chat on Thursday, March 13 at 11 am ET. Yes, you read that correctly, SMU is shattering precedent by holding a Community Chat on a day that is not Wednesday. Our featured speaker will be Alan Price, a leading trade attorney at Wiley and someone whose columns you read regularly in SMU.

Before we get whipsawed by the current moment, it’s important to reflect on optimism. Whatever happens, consumers are going to need steel.

Buyers responding to our latest market survey reported longer lead times this week on all of the sheet and plate products SMU tracks.

The majority of the steel buyers responding to our latest market survey reported that domestic mills are not open to negotiating prices on new orders this week.