Many within the US are starting to wonder if an affirmative finding in the Section 232 investigation could start an international trade war.
The investigation into steel imports to the US is part of President Trump’s “American First” policy; under Section 232, the president is permitted to adjust imports of goods to the US should the US Department of Commerce determine the shipments “threaten national security.”
European nations could be sharply impacted should the Section 232 investigation results be affirmative and as such; the announcement is expected to come in the upcoming days. Some countries have already begun to “threaten retaliation” should the US implement significant tariffs on imported steel.
As for the current state of the US import HDG market, traders say the market is a mixed bag. Although some say they are still actively courting orders from clients, others note that “every order is packed with cancellation clauses in case the 232 tariffs are significant.”
Pricing for imported 0.012”x40.875” G30 hot dipped galvanized (HDG) coil and imported 0.019x41.5625 Gr80/AZ55 Galvalume coil in the US domestic market are listed below.
| 0.012”x40.875” G30 HDG coil | cwt. | metric ton | net ton | ||
| UAE | $44-$46 | $970-$1014 | $880-$920 | DDP loaded truck in US Gulf coast ports | neutral |
| Turkey / India | $44-$46 | $970-$1014 | $880-$920 | DDP loaded truck in US Gulf coast ports | neutral |
| 0.019x41.5625 Gr80/AZ55 Galvalume | |||||
| Brazil | $46-$48 | $1014-$1058 | $920-$960 | DDP loaded truck in US Gulf coast ports | neutral |
| Vietnam | $46-$48 | $1014-$1058 | $920-$960 | DDP loaded truck in US Gulf coast ports | neutral |