U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick stated that nothing will halt President Donald Trump’s expanded 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum until domestic U.S. production is fortified, and that Trump plans to include copper in his trade protections. Lutnick also mentioned a forthcoming meeting with Ontario Premier Doug Ford aimed at easing tensions between the U.S. and Canada, though negotiations on a national level will await Mark Carney’s full installation as Canadian prime minister.
“So I think it’s just to level-set things, make sure we know each other, and then we’re going to negotiate with all of Canada,” Lutnick commented regarding the meeting with Ford.
Lutnick emphasized that steel and aluminum are among essential products that must be domestically produced in the United States for national security reasons, alongside semiconductors and pharmaceuticals. “We can’t be in a war and rely on steel and aluminum from some other country. I mean, it’s just not reasonable,” Lutnick explained. “So the president wants steel and aluminum in America, and let me be clear, nothing is going to stop that until we’ve got a big, strong domestic steel and aluminum capability. And by the way, he’s going to add copper to that mix too.”
In late February, Trump directed Lutnick to conduct a Section 232 national security investigation to determine whether tariffs should be imposed on copper imports, using the same legal framework that underpins the steel and aluminum duties.
— news from Reuters