US steel tariffs “will hit” Tata in IJmuiden if they go ahead
US president Donald Trump’s plans to introduce tariffs on steel and aluminum imports will impact Tata Steel’s IJmuiden operations, the company said on Monday.
Tata, often criticized in the Netherlands for environmental impact, stated it is considering “all possible options” should the tariffs take effect, according to news agency ANP.
Over the weekend, Trump announced a proposed 25% import duty on foreign steel and 10% on aluminum but did not provide further details.
“Import tariffs always affect our overseas sales,” said Tata, an Indian-owned company. Approximately 12% of the Dutch steel plant’s production—800,000 to 900,000 tonnes annually—is exported to the US. The focus is on specialised steel products such as that used in electric batteries.
The company said it is in close contact with the American Chamber of Commerce in the Netherlands, the Dutch embassy, and EU representatives in the US.
The US primarily imports steel from Canada, China, and the UAE.
“This won’t improve conditions for US companies,” Martijn Schippers, a customs and tariffs expert at EY and Erasmus University, told BNR radio. “US car manufacturers relying on foreign steel may have to pass higher costs onto consumers.”
Trump imposed steel tariffs during his first term, prompting the EU to introduce duties on American products such as jeans and whiskey. The tariffs were gradually reduced over time.
The European Commission said on Monday it had not received official communication from Washington and would wait for more details before commenting. However, it said, it would respond to any tariffs targeting EU companies, workers, or consumers.
Thank you for donating to DutchNews.nl.
We could not provide the Dutch News service, and keep it free of charge, without the generous support of our readers. Your donations allow us to report on issues you tell us matter, and provide you with a summary of the most important Dutch news each day.
Make a donation