AMM March 8, 2018

President Donald Trump has signed off on previously announced tariffs on steel and aluminum imports into the United States, officially implementing them as trade policy.

Trump signed the blanket tariffs – 25% on steel imports, 10% on aluminum imports – following a meeting with United Steelworkers union representatives at the White House on Thursday. The tariffs will exclude North American Free Trade Agreement members Canada and Mexico – at least temporarily while Nafta renegotiations continue.

For other countries, including US allies, Trump said on Thursday that the US is open to negotiations to modify or drop the tariffs for individual exporters. US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer will be in charge of this exemption process, Trump said.

Once signed, the tariffs are expected to take 15 days to go into effect, according to Trump.