Tag: trade policy

What impact could the war in Iran have on the steel raw materials supply chain and prices?

The Steel Manufacturers Association’s (SMA's) Philip K. Bell believes President Trump’s steel tariffs have been effective so far, and thinks we should remain “solution-focused” regarding the upcoming USMCA review.

The office of the US Trade Representative has opened a major Section 301 investigation into structural excess capacity across global manufacturing, with steel and aluminum at the center of the inquiry.

With the Iran war approaching its third week, the future course and scope of the conflict remain uncertain. Even so, while the human costs are the most immediate and tragic, the global economic implications have already proven to be significant.

A year after being blindsided by hefty tariffs from its top trading partner, Canadian steelmakers are renewing their call for tariff-free trade between the US and Canada.

Mexico’s Secretary of Economy is conducting ‘Operation Clean-Up,” inspecting suspicious steel companies to verify compliance with rules of origin.

The Council on American Steel Trade (CAST) introduces itself as “pro-USA steel manufacturing and is led by trade experts representing every level of the American steel supply chain – from iron ore mining and integrated and mini-mills to processors, downstream steel-derivative producers, and the hardworking men and women of America’s steel workforce.”

Leaders of the Steel Manufacturers Association (SMA) and the Canadian Steel Producers Association (CSPA) used this year's Tampa Steel Conference to outline the North American steel industry's central challenges: growing pressures, tariff realignments, and the upcoming USMCA review.

The extreme cold we've seen over the last month or so might be passing. But it's still stormy out there when it comes to trade issues. The latest trade matter that’s led to more pings than usual on my phone and in my inbox: Ternium México filed a trade petition against imports of cold-rolled (CR) coil from China, Malaysia, and the United States.

Barry Zekelman used his Tampa Steel Conference fireside chat to deliver one of the bluntest assessments yet of the forces shaping North American steel. He warned that a flawed tariff structure and an impending power crunch threaten the industry more than most realize.

President Trump signed an Executive Order (EO) on Feb. 6 allowing the administration to impose tariffs on countries that do business with Iran.

US rebar and wire rod prices rose month on month (m/m) alongside continued scrap increases, while merchant bar and structurals were unchanged.

US steel imports have fallen sharply under the new 50% Section 232 tariff regime. Jerry Richardson, general director of CSN LLC, discussed on an SMU Community Chat this week how the market is now structurally tighter and more volatile than at any point in the past decade.

CSN LLC General Director Jerry Richardson will join Steel Market Update (SMU) for a Community Chat on Wednesday, Jan. 21, at 11 am ET.

We’ve got some exciting announcements to make about the Tampa Steel Conference, which is now less than a month away! First, I’m very happy to say that Worthington Steel President and CEO Geoff Gilmore will be joining Kloeckner Metals CEO John Ganem on the stage for a fireside chat with my colleague David Schollaert.

Members of the Congressional Steel Caucus met in Washington on Wednesday to assess the state of the domestic steel industry. Lawmakers and industry leaders discussed the importance of Section 232 tariffs, strong trade enforcement, and continued investment in American steelmaking.

CSN LLC General Director Jerry Richardson will join Steel Market Update (SMU) for a Community Chat on Weds., Jan. 21, at 11 am ET.

As we move into 2026, it’s time to look forward. While the “Donroe Doctrine,” Venezuela, and Greenland absorb significant press attention, important trade developments will also continue to make headlines this year. The unprecedented changes we saw in 2025 will continue in 2026, particularly in the areas of IEEPA and tariffs, USMCA, and the WTO.

Growth remains uneven, and capital continues to concentrate. But compared to the rest of the world (RoW), the US continues to have the most stable path forward.

US Congressmen Mike Kelly (R-Pa.) and Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.) have introduced the Strengthening Trade Enforcement and Evasion Limitations Act (STEEL Act) into the House of Representatives. The bipartisan bill aims to curb unfairly traded imports and strengthen US trade enforcement.

The Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court has sided with Wheatland Tube, a Zekelman Industries company, in a landmark trade ruling that bars public agencies and contractors in the state from using Mexican-made steel conduit in state-funded projects.

The Coalition for a Prosperous America (CPA) is urging the Trump administration to keep Section 232 steel and aluminum measures focused on rebuilding US capacity, rather than using them as bargaining chips in unrelated negotiations.

Wiley attorneys Alan Price and Ted Brackmeyer argue that significant changes to the USMCA and continued Section 232 tariffs on Canada and Mexico are needed to support American steelmaking.

It was only a matter of time before a shutdown happened. And, no, we aren’t talking about the federal government’s lapse in appropriations. On Oct. 9, Beijing announced a series of restrictions that will effectively shut down exports of rare earth elements, magnets, and certain downstream products vital to advanced manufacturing.

US President Donald Trump took to social media late Thursday night to announce he was canceling trade talks with Canada.

Below are some other issues that should be on your radar. Because while prices have been steady, a lot is going on when it comes to news that could impact them.

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

Tariffs are ultimately to blame for stagnant demand in the hot-rolled coil market, domestic market sources tell SMU.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and US President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House on Tuesday that they’ll be formulating a trade deal that works for both nations.  

There is no doubt that the current government shutdown reflects the vast divisions between the extremes of American politics, society, and even geography. Almost all Americans agree that government is necessary, but voters disagree...