On March 8, 2018, US President Donald J. Trump ordered a 25 percent tariff on imported steel and a 10 percent tariff on imported aluminum from all countries which went into effect on March 23. Initial exemptions were granted for Canada, the US’s largest supplier of aluminum and steel, and Mexico, and later expanded to include other US allies such as the European Union, Australia, and Brazil. On March 22, Trump ordered an additional $50 to 60 billion in tariffs against Chinese imports for its alleged lack of action on intellectual property rights infringement, with additional tariffs rumored to be announced on March 27. How are the Rising Powers responding to the possible first shots in a trade war? Read more here.
