The Argentine Chamber of Steel expressed its concern regarding the decision of the United States to impose an additional 25% tariff on steel and derivative imports, a measure taken by President Trump in the Presidential Proclamation under Section 232. According to the Chamber, this tariff increase could negatively affect the trade relationship between both countries.
The Argentine steel industry emphasized that the country represents only 0.20% of the world's steel production and is considered a reliable supplier. They also noted that there is productive integration between the steel sector of Argentina and the United States, as the American industry requested steel products as inputs for its production process, which were duly authorized by the relevant authorities.
In terms of the trade context, Argentina has had a chronic trade deficit with the United States, temporarily reversed in 2024 due to an economic recession that limited imports. Additionally, there was a specific increase in Argentine exports of energy products to the United States. In light of this situation, the Chamber is hopeful that the Argentine government can establish a dialogue to reverse the measure and strengthen the productive integration between both steel industries.
The steel industry expressed its understanding of the concern regarding unfair trade but emphasized that the response must be coordinated. In this sense, they highlighted that Argentina is a reliable and complementary supplier for the American industry, thus it should not be affected by the imposed tariffs.
In summary, the Argentine Chamber of Steel urged to find a solution to prevent the measure from affecting the trade relationship between Argentina and the United States, arguing that Argentina is a reliable supplier and a strategic partner in the steel sector.
