Maybe some of this uncertainty will get ironed out ahead of Liberation Day tariffs resetting higher rates on July 9. But if I had to place a wager, it would be on more drama and last-minute brinksmanship - whether it comes to the Liberation Day tariffs or the various Section 232s that are in the works.
After a hot start to June, the CME ferrous derivatives complex has cooled down.
Could the US and Mexico end up with a tariff-rate quota system?
SMU’s Mill Order Index (MOI) declined for a third straight month in May, but only marginally.
“Economically, the business case for products made in the us has become a lot more attractive," the CEO told Fox Business.
US cold-rolled (CR) coil prices continued to tick higher this week, while offshore markets were mixed.
Your highlights on the week in trade developments, price increases, scrap news, and more.
US hot-rolled coil prices crept up again this week but still trail imports from Europe.
Trade talks are progressing between the US and the market is contemplating the future of Section 232 tariffs.
Cleveland-Cliffs plans to increase prices for hot-rolled (HR) coil to $950 per short ton (st) with the opening of its July spot order book. The Cleveland-based steelmaker said the price hike was effective immediately in a letter to customers dated Monday.
Steel market participants learned that negotiations between the US and Mexico include discussions about Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum despite President Trump’s June 3 proclamation increasing the tariffs from 25% to 50% for all steel and aluminum imports—except for those from the UK.
US cold-rolled (CR) coil prices edged up again this week, and most offshore markets moved in the opposite direction. But the diverging price moves stateside vs. abroad did little to impact pricing trends. The bigger impact was from Section 232, which were doubled to 50% as of June 3. The higher tariffs have resulted in […]
In short, when tariffs go up, jobs in consuming industries go down. There is conclusive evidence from past actions: safeguard tariffs in 2002 and Section 232 tariffs in 2018. It is happening again in 2025. The Trump administration wants foreign producers (and US retailers) to absorb tariff increases (except in antidumping cases, where foreign absorption of tariffs is illegal).
Hashing out duty costs
If you’re feeling a sudden jerk and a case of tariff whiplash coming on, you’re not alone.
More developments with USS-Nippon. A look at whether imports will be needed. The latest prices. And more.
Steel equities and steel futures fell hard after news broke earlier this week that the US and Mexico might reach an agreement that would result in the 50% Section 232 tariff coming off Mexican steel. The sharp declines didn’t make much sense, especially if, as some reports indicate, Mexico might agree to a fixed quota. They didn't make sense even if steel flows between the US and Mexico remain unchanged.
Domestic hot-rolled (HR) coil prices edged up marginally again this week, while offshore prices ticked down.
Even before the news about Mexico, I didn’t want to overstate the magnitude of the change in momentum. As far as we could tell, there hadn’t been a frenzy of new ordering following President Trump’s announcement of 50% Section 232 tariffs. But higher tariffs had unquestionably raised prices for imports, which typically provide the floor for domestic pricing. We’d heard, for example, that prices below $800 per short ton for hot-rolled (HR) coil were gone from the domestic market – even for larger buyers.
Domestic hot-rolled coil prices edged up marginally this week, while offshore prices ticked down.
Timna Tanners, managing director of equity research for Wolfe Research, will be the featured speaker on the next SMU Community Chat. The webinar will be on Wednesday, June 11, at 11 am ET. It’s free to attend.
This CRU Insight examines how the increase in Section 232 tariffs on steel to challenging levels will lead to significatively higher prices for end consumers in the US market.
I think there is an obvious case for sheet and plate prices going higher from here. That’s because, on a very basic level, the floor for flat-rolled steel prices, which is typically provided by imports, is now significantly higher than it was a week ago.
US manufacturers brace for the implications spurred by the latest round of Section 232 tariffs.
New light vehicle sales slumped in May to 15.6 million as the buying rush faded from consumers signing ahead tariff increases.
President Donald Trump on Tuesday evening signed a proclamation that officially doubled Section 232 tariffs on imported steel and aluminum from 25% to 50%. There was one exception: Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum from the United Kingdom will remain at 25%, according to a fact sheet published by the White House.
Cleveland-Cliffs Chairman, President and CEO Lourenco Goncalves offered full-throated support for Section 232 tariffs on imported steel being doubled to 50%. And the top executive of the Cleveland-based steelmaker said the steel industry wanted to see as few exceptions as possible to the tariffs.
Following eight consecutive weeks of declines, sheet and plate prices saw some upward movement this week in the wake of last Friday’s Section 232 tariff increase announcement. Gains varied by product.
Meanwhile, several US trade groups applauded the latest trade announcement.
Section 232 tariffs of 50% on imported steel will go into effect on Wednesday with few exceptions, according to a top White House official.