Donald Trump says he will impose 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminium imports into US

Donald Trump says he will impose 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminium imports into the US, including from Canada and Mexico.

The president said he would make the announcement on Monday, signalling yet another major escalation in his trade policy overhaul.

Speaking on Air Force One as he flew from Florida to New Orleans for the Super Bowl, he said the new levies would be on top of existing metals duties.

"Any steel coming into the United States is going to have a 25% tariff," Mr Trump told reporters on Sunday.

When asked about aluminium, he responded, "aluminium, too" will be subject to the trade penalties.

Share prices in steelmakers in Asia were mostly down on Monday, apart from those with operations in the US.

Mr Trump also said he will announce reciprocal tariffs on Tuesday or Wednesday, to take effect almost immediately, applying them to all countries and matching the tariff rates levied by each nation.

"And very simply, it's, if they charge us, we charge them," Mr Trump said of the reciprocal tariff plan.

Australia seeks tariff exemption

Meanwhile, Canberra is pressing Washington for an exemption to the planned tariffs, with Australia's trade minister Don Farrell saying its steel and aluminium to the US create "thousands of good-paying American jobs" and are key to shared defence interests.

Mr Farrell said his country was making the case for "free and fair trade, including access into the US market for Australian steel and aluminium" during meetings with the Trump administration.

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Mr Trump previously threatened 25% import taxes on all goods from Canada and Mexico, though he paused them for 30 days last week. At the same time, he proceeded to add 10% duties on imports from China.

Also last week, Mr Trump said tariffs on the European Union would be implemented "pretty soon". When questioned about the UK, the president said Britain was "out of line" when it came to trade but he thought the situation could be "worked out" without the use of tariffs.

His latest comments on the presidential plane came just after German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the EU was ready to respond "within an hour" if the US levied tariffs on European goods, highlighting the risks of an escalating trade war.

China's retaliatory tariffs on some US exports are due to take effect on Monday, with no sign yet of progress between Beijing and Washington.

'Gulf of America Day'

Also on board Air Force One, Mr Trump signed a proclamation declaring 9 February 2025 as the first-ever "Gulf of America Day".

One of the first executive orders the president signed was renaming the Gulf of Mexico.

While signing the latest proclamation, he posed in front of a map with the newly changed name.

Trump reiterates desire to make Canada 51st state

In a separate interview earlier on Fox News, Mr Trump repeated calls to make Canada "the 51st state" as he reiterated his support for tech billionaire Elon Musk.

When asked if he was serious about Canada being a 51st state, Mr Trump said: "I think Canada would be much better off.

"We lose $200bn a year with Canada. And I'm not going to let that happen. It's too much.

"Why are we paying $200bn a year essentially in subsidy to Canada? Now, if they are a 51st state, I don't mind doing it."

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He also continued to voice support for Mr Musk. The X owner is spearheading the US president's efforts to cut costs and bureaucracy in government, which has already seen the US Aid Agency for International Development targeted.

Named the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), its aim is to find ways to sack federal workers, cut programmes and cut federal regulations.

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