Winners and losers from new tariffs

Winner: US steelmakers

PRODUCERS such as Nucor, AK Steel Holding and US Steel will reap the benefits. They have aggressively lobbied for trade defences against what they see as unfair competition from China, Russia and South Korea.

A tariff around the level currently discussed - 25 per cent on steel and 10 per cent on aluminum from all countries - is expected to drive up US steel prices. Domestic hot-rolled coil, an industry benchmark, has already rallied in anticipation, reaching about US$780 per metric ton, according to Metal Bulletin prices.