Five major US steel industry organizations have expressed strong support for the restoration of 25% tariffs on steel imports, alongside the elimination of the steel Section 232 exclusion process. The groups, including the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), Steel Manufacturers Association (SMA), Specialty Steel Industry of North America (SSINA), American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC), and the U.S. OCTG Manufacturers Association (USOMA), sent a joint letter to President Trump reaffirming their backing for the tariffs introduced under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. They also urged the removal of tariff exemptions exploited by foreign producers to bypass the measures.
In 2018, President Trump imposed 25% tariffs on steel imports and 10% on aluminum, which were later expanded to include certain derivative products. On February 10, 2025, Trump announced an update to the tariffs, applying them to all nations except Russia, and eliminating the exclusion process. Russian tariffs will remain at 200%, and all quotas and exemptions will be removed starting March 12, 2025.
The letter praised the 2018 tariffs for revitalizing the American steel industry, leading to the reopening of mills, rehiring of workers, and significant investments in new plant infrastructure. However, it also criticized the country- and product-specific exemptions, which diluted the impact of the tariffs and led to increased steel imports and a rise in imports of downstream products, threatening the viability of domestic producers.
“We welcome and applaud your actions to restore the integrity of the Section 232 tariffs on steel,” the groups concluded, emphasizing the importance of a level playing field for American steel producers and their workers.
Vietnam Steel by Hoa Sen Group
