Key points
- Canada biggest exporter to the US
- Auto sector to take a hit
- Prices likely to go up
ISLAMABAD: United States President Donald Trump has turned things upside down with explosive executive orders just weeks into his presidency.
He announced 25 per cent tariffs on all steel and aluminium imports to the US and reciprocal tariffs on countries levelling duties on US goods.
On Monday, during a signing ceremony at the Oval Office, Trump announced the tariffs on foreign steel and aluminium were to be imposed “without exceptions or exemptions”.
With the tariffs set to come into effect on March 12, let us look at the list of countries to be worst affected by the tariffs.
Top suppliers
According to Al Jazeera, roughly a quarter of all steel used in the United States is imported.
Canada, Brazil and Mexico are the top three suppliers of steel to the United States.
Between March 2024 and January 2025, they provided about half (49 per cent) of steel imports for domestic consumption, according to the International Trade Administration.
Steel is an important material primarily used in construction, manufacturing, transportation and energy sectors due to its strength, durability and versatility.
Canada’s share
During that period, Canada supplied 22 per cent (5.47 million tonnes) of the 25 million tonnes of steel imported into the United States, followed by Brazil with 15 per cent (3.74 million tonnes) and Mexico with 12 per cent (2.9 million tonnes), according to Al Jazeera.
Canada is by far the biggest supplier of aluminium to the United States. Between March 2024 and January 2025, it provided nearly 40 per cent of US imports, totalling nearly 3 million metric tonnes, according to the International Trade Administration.
With tariffs due, Canadian exporters will feel the pinch more than any other group.
Although the Canadian government has vowed to protect related sectors the fallout may have far-reaching impacts.
Remaining top 10
South Korea, Vietnam, Japan, Germany, Taiwan, the Netherlands and China, together as the remaining top 10 steel providers, accounted for 30 per cent of US steel imports.
Being a lightweight metal, aluminium 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 aluminium, with roughly half of all aluminium used in the country being imported.
Aluminium suppliers
The United Arab Emirates, China, South Korea and Bahrain follow Canada in making up the top five aluminium suppliers to the US.
The US is more dependent on imports for aluminium, with roughly half of all aluminium used in the country being imported.
Proportionate to the size of exports, every country will be impacted by the tariffs with Canada being the one paying the highest price.
