Who sells the most steel and aluminum in the US and who is facing tariffs?

United States President Donald Trump has announced plans to impose 25 percent tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports, and reciprocal tariffs on countries that level tariffs on American goods.

On Monday, during a signing ceremony in the Oval Office, Trump announced that tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum would be imposed "without exceptions."

The tariffs will take effect on March 12.

But who are the main suppliers of steel in the US?

Steel is an important material used primarily in the construction, manufacturing, transportation, and energy sectors due to its strength and durability.

Approximately one-quarter of all steel used in the United States is imported.

And Canada, Brazil and Mexico are the three main suppliers of steel to the United States, writes Al Jazeera, the Telegraph reports.

Between March 2024 and January 2025, they provided about half (49 percent) of steel imports for domestic consumption, according to the International Trade Administration.

During that period, Canada supplied 22 percent (5.47 million tons) of the 25 million tons of steel imported into the United States, followed by Brazil with 15 percent (3.74 million tons) and Mexico with 12 percent (2.9 million tons).

South Korea, Vietnam, Japan, Germany, Taiwan, the Netherlands and China, together as the remaining 10 major steel suppliers, accounted for 30 percent of U.S. steel imports.

Who are the main suppliers of aluminum in the US?

Canada is by far the largest supplier of aluminum to the United States.

Between March 2024 and January 2025, it provided nearly 40 percent of U.S. imports, reaching about 3 million metric tons, according to the International Trade Administration.

The United Arab Emirates, China, South Korea and Bahrain follow Canada in the top five suppliers of aluminum to the US.

Being a lightweight metal, aluminum is widely used in the automotive and aerospace industries.

It is also often used in packaging, especially for food and beverages, due to its ability to preserve contents and its recyclability.

The US is most dependent on imports for aluminum, with roughly half of all aluminum used in the country being imported, reports the Telegraph.

What are the fees and how do they work?

A tariff is a tax imposed by the government on imported goods and services, paid by businesses that bring them into the country.

Designed to protect domestic industries, tariffs often raise costs for consumers by making foreign products more expensive, potentially reducing demand.

President Trump has said he will implement tariffs on various imported goods to protect American industries, reduce trade imbalances, and promote domestic manufacturing.

How did the tariffs of Trump's first term affect American steel?

In March 2018, Trump imposed tariffs of 25 percent on steel and 10 percent on aluminum.

The idea behind the taxes was to reduce dependence on foreign steel and increase domestic production.

Markets initially responded with a rise in US steel prices and a decline in low-priced imports, which boosted profits for domestic companies.

However, increased production in the US led to a surplus of steel in domestic markets.

By the end of 2019, steel prices had fallen by more than 40 percent, largely due to retaliatory tariffs from US trading partners, as well as falling consumption, particularly in the car manufacturing and construction sectors.

How does this affect the US steel and aluminum industry?

Steel and aluminum are important materials in the construction and automotive industries, as well as being used in the production of machinery, durable household goods, and electronics.

If tariffs are implemented, the impact on metals trading could be substantial, according to a report from the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) Metal Research team.

Tariffs could potentially increase costs for manufacturers and disrupt established supply chains.

While American manufacturers may turn to domestic producers to meet demand, they are likely to face higher prices, which, in turn, could increase costs for industries such as auto manufacturing and housing.

How will tariffs affect China?

China dominates the global steel market and is the world's largest producer, accounting for more than half of global production.

As a result, cheaper Chinese steel exports have flooded global markets.

Despite not being a major exporter to the US, China is likely to be affected due to the processing of Chinese steel and aluminum in other countries, such as Vietnam, which then enters the US. /Telegraph/