In a surprise announcement during a press briefing at the White House, U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that his administration is doubling Section 232 steel import tariffs on Türkiye raising them from 25% to 50% , effective immediately.
This move marks a sharp escalation in U.S.-Türkiye trade relations and comes amid renewed political tensions over regional security issues and economic policies. Türkiye is one of the world’s top ten steel producers and heavily relies on exports to sustain its domestic steel sector. In recent years, the U.S. has been a key export market, particularly for products like rebar, wire rod, and semi-finished steel. With tariffs now at 50%, Turkish steel products will struggle to compete with domestic U.S. producers and other countries with lower or no tariffs (e.g., Canada, Mexico under USMCA).
The U.S. accounted for approximately usd 400–600 million annually in steel exports from Türkiye before the tariff hike. A near-complete withdrawal from the U.S. market could result in hundreds of millions in lost revenue for Turkish mills. For the US market, plants specializing in production may face production cutbacks, layoffs, or idle capacity unless alternative markets are found quickly.
The Turkish Lira (TRY) weakened slightly against the dollar following the news, as investors feared further strain on Türkiye’s trade deficit and industrial output.
Turkish exporters are expected to redirect shipments to alternative markets in Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia which could lead to downward pressure on global steel prices in those regions.
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