TRADE GAME

Trump Tariffs Deal Bigger Blow to Allies Than China

New steel and aluminum tariffs are going to hit harder for Canada and the EU than they will for China.

With the Trump administration’s new tariffs against the European Union, Canada, and Mexico announced Thursday, the United States seems to be dealing a harsher blow to allies than to China, according to a Washington Post analysis. Starting Friday, the three countries will be subject to a 25 tariff on steel imports and a 10 percent tariff on aluminum. China is also subject to tariffs, but the EU and Canada send “send far more metal to the United States.” Canada sent $12.4 billion worth of steel and aluminum to the U.S. in 2017, and the EU send $7.7 billion worth. China sent the U.S. a total of $2.9 billion worth of the same goods in the same time period. While the economy is not expected to tank due to the tariffs, prices for steel and aluminum goods are set to be higher, and the chance of a new NAFTA deal will be “harder for Trump” to obtain.