President Donald Trump has announced a sweeping 25% tariff on steel imports and aluminum imports from all nations, marking a significant expansion of his trade policies. Unlike previous metal tariffs that exempted certain allies, this new measure applies universally and particularly targets China, which has been flooding international markets with low-priced steel due to its domestic housing crisis.

The tariffs are part of Mr. Trump’s broader trade agenda, which includes a 10% tariff on Chinese goods and potential increased levies on Canada and Mexico tied to immigration and drug trafficking concerns. Mr. Trump argues these measures will protect American industries and workers while generating revenue for domestic programs, stating this is “the beginning of making America rich again.”

The decision has drawn mixed reactions. China’s foreign ministry broadly condemned U.S. trade protectionism, warning that “trade and tariff wars have no winners.” The United Steelworkers union, while supporting measures against “bad actors” like China, expressed concern about tariffs on trusted partners like Canada, arguing that such blanket measures could harm workers on both sides of the border.

Critics, including the Competitive Enterprise Institute, argue that while the tariffs might create some jobs in metals industries, they could lead to higher prices and reduced competition across various sectors that rely on these materials, such as automotive and housing. They suggest the economic impact might be counterproductive, noting that there are more manicurists employed in the U.S. than workers in the steel and aluminum industries combined.

The policy reflects Trump’s “America-first” approach to trade, echoing his campaign promises to protect U.S. manufacturing and blue-collar workers. It aligns with his recent opposition to a Japanese company’s attempted takeover of U.S. Steel, a position shared by President Biden.

Read more: Trump slaps tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports

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