The U.S. government has established a system to monitor its steel imports from Mexico and Canada.

A U.S. congressional analysis estimated that U.S. domestic steel production reached 82 million metric tons in 2022. Of this, 10% was exported, with over 90% of the exports going to Canada and Mexico.

U.S. imports amounted to 28 million metric tons, 39% of which came from Canada and Mexico.

Of these total purchases last year, 22% originated in Canada, 17% in Mexico, 9% in South Korea, 8% in Brazil, 4% in Japan and the rest from other nations.

The Treaty between Mexico, the United States, and Canada (USMCA) facilitates the free circulation of steel products among the three countries. This further highlights the strong integration of the North American market.

U.S. tariffs and/or quotas limit imports from all of these countries, as well as many others.

U.S. steel imports: monitoring

According to U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) estimates, imports accounted for 14% of U.S. steel consumption. in 2022, up from 13% in 2021.

In Proclamation 9705 of March 8, 2018 (Adjustment of Steel Imports into the United States) and Proclamation 9704 of March 8, 2018 (Adjustment of Aluminum Imports into the United States), the President agreed with the Secretary of Commerce’s findings regarding national security.

As a result, the President decided to impose a 25% ad valorem tariff on steel imports and a 10% ad valorem tariff on aluminum imports. These measures aim to ensure that such imports do not pose a threat to U.S. national security.

In the proclamations, the President emphasized that the agreements made with Canada and Mexico would offer an effective, long-term solution to address any potential national security concerns related to steel and aluminum imports from those countries.