
President Donald Trump has implemented a 25% tax on foreign steel and aluminum, which has had significant implications. In the past, tariffs have strained U.S. relations with key allies and led to increased costs for downstream industries.
The steel and aluminum tariffs are particularly impactful on U.S. allies, with Canada being the largest supplier of foreign steel and aluminum to the United States. Research conducted in 2020 by Harvard University and the University of California, Davis, revealed that while the tariffs did create 1,000 jobs, they also resulted in a loss of 75,000 jobs in other sectors.
A study conducted by the U.S. International Trade Commission in 2023 found that in 2021, production at downstream companies decreased by nearly $3.5 billion due to the tariffs. This offset the $2.3 billion increase in production by aluminum producers and steelmakers that year.
To put this into perspective, a typical car contains approximately 1,000 pounds of steel, costing around $6,000 to $7,000 per vehicle. Therefore, a 25% tariff will raise the cost of a car by $1,000 to $1,500. These tariffs have far-reaching consequences that impact various industries and the economy as a whole.
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