U.S. President to impose tariffs on Ukrainian steel: Kyiv seeks solutions

Trump’s order eliminates the temporary waiver that allowed Ukrainian steel to enter the U.S. market without additional duties. According to the decree, all previous exemptions for Ukraine will be canceled, subjecting the country to the same tariffs as other steel-exporting nations.  

The U.S. administration justifies the move by arguing that lifting tariffs on Ukrainian steel primarily benefited European producers rather than Ukraine itself. Trump’s order highlights that Ukrainian steel imports remained at 0.5% of total U.S. steel imports, while imports from the European Union increased from 11.2% to 14.8%.  

Ukraine’s response

First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Yulia Svyrydenko reacted to the decision, stating that Ukraine had made every effort to maintain its exemption from U.S. tariffs. She acknowledged that the move would inevitably affect Ukraine’s steel industry, which has already suffered significant damage due to Russian aggression.  

Svyrydenko mentioned that the U.S. decision to impose tariffs on Ukraine's steel starting March 12 will have a natural impact on the metallurgical sector.  

Despite this setback, Ukraine remains committed to engaging with international partners to seek a viable solution before the tariffs take effect. The government is expected to continue diplomatic negotiations to mitigate the potential economic impact on the country's steel sector. 

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