FME reaction to U.S. import tariffs on steel and aluminum

On Feb. 10, 2025, U.S. President Trump announced tariffs of 25% on all steel and aluminum imports. This also affects the Dutch technology industry. FME is concerned and warns about the negative consequences for Dutch exporters. It is crucial that the Netherlands and the EU act quickly to prevent the import tariffs.

The announced measures build on import tariffs imposed by President Trump in his first term in office. Indeed, since 2018, many countries have already faced U.S. import tariffs on steel (25%) and aluminum (10%). Although several countries managed to negotiate all sorts of exceptions to the levies in subsequent years, these new measures roll back all the exceptions. On March 12, 2025, the import levies go into effect.

Call to the Dutch cabinet

FME is concerned about the impact of the duties on the Dutch technology industry. In 2023, the Netherlands still exported some 850,000 tons of steel and aluminum to the US. Within the EU, the Netherlands is also the largest steel exporter to the US after Italy and Germany. There is also a risk that these import tariffs will lead to a wider EU-US tit-for-tat trade war. This is in nobody's interest. FME calls on the Dutch cabinet to oppose the announced measures in an EU context and prevent further trade barriers.