Fact Check: "New 100% tariffs on steel imports from non-free trade countries announced!"
What We Know
The claim that "new 100% tariffs on steel imports from non-free trade countries" have been announced is misleading. Current U.S. tariffs on steel imports, as outlined in Proclamation 10896, set the tariff rate at 50% for steel articles and derivative steel articles, effective June 4, 2025, not 100% as claimed (source). This proclamation was issued by the President of the United States, confirming that the tariffs would apply to imports from all countries, not specifically targeting non-free trade countries with a 100% rate.
Additionally, Canada has announced plans to establish tariff-rate quotas on imports of steel products from non-free trade agreement partners, but these quotas are set at 100% of 2024 levels, not a 100% tariff rate (source, source). This means that Canada plans to limit the volume of steel imports rather than impose a full tariff.
Analysis
The assertion of a 100% tariff is not supported by the official proclamations or trade agreements currently in effect. The U.S. tariffs on steel, as per the latest proclamation, are set at 50%, which is a significant but not total tariff. The source of this information is a presidential proclamation, which is a reliable and authoritative document regarding U.S. trade policy (source).
In contrast, the mention of 100% tariff-rate quotas from Canada is a separate issue and pertains to their own trade measures aimed at stabilizing their domestic market. This is a nuanced distinction that is important to understand; Canada is not imposing a 100% tariff but rather a quota that limits the amount of steel that can be imported at certain tariff levels (source).
The reliability of the sources used to verify this claim is high, as they include official government proclamations and reputable news outlets reporting on trade policy. However, the original claim appears to conflate different aspects of trade policy, leading to confusion.
Conclusion
Verdict: False. The claim that "new 100% tariffs on steel imports from non-free trade countries" have been announced is inaccurate. The current U.S. tariffs on steel imports are set at 50%, and while Canada is implementing tariff-rate quotas, these do not equate to a 100% tariff.
Sources
- Adjusting Imports of Aluminum and Steel into the United States (https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/06/adjusting-imports-of-aluminum-and-steel-into-the-united-states/)
- Canada could slap more duties on US steel and aluminum (https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/canada-address-unfair-trade-steel-aluminum-sectors-says-carney-2025-06-19/)
- Canada's New Measures to Defend Steel and Aluminum Industry Against U.S. (https://www.ghy.com/trade-compliance/canadas-new-measures-to-defend-steel-and-aluminum-industry-against-us-tariffs/)
- Trump tariffs live updates: US talks with Canada, EU take focus as deadlines loom (https://finance.yahoo.com/news/live/trump-tariffs-live-updates-us-talks-with-canada-eu-take-focus-as-deadlines-loom-200619959.html)
