Return of Trump's steel tariffs: a blow to Ukraine

Reinstatement of the 25% tariff and its consequences

Donald Trump's decision to reinstate the 25% tariff on steel imports, adopted on 12 February 2025, could severely hit Ukraine's economy, particularly in regions where metal production is concentrated. This view was expressed by political scientist Taras Semenyuk.

Metallurgy at risk

According to the expert, the country's major metallurgical plants are currently concentrated in Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts, which are located near the front line. 

Over the three years of the full-scale war, Ukraine has already lost half of its production capacity, yet metallurgy remains one of the key drivers of GDP. In 2024, its contribution to the national economy amounted to 6%.

Threat to enterprises and regions

The political scientist warns that the introduction of tariffs could lead to destabilisation of the operations of metallurgical plants, which are anchor enterprises. This, in turn, will affect the economic and social stability of the front-line regions and the country as a whole.