According to official figures, the United States' steel imports fell by 21% in 2025. This scenario reduced the market share of its North American partners: Mexico's share dropped from 11% to 9%, while Canada's fell from 23% to 18%, despite remaining the leading suppliers.

The decline occurred while Section 232 tariffs were in effect, still applied to products covered by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). In response, Canada imposed retaliatory tariffs of 25% on US steel and aluminum, while Mexico chose not to impose retaliatory duties.

In April 2026, the Trump administration adjusted the tariff structure to charge based on the total value of the goods and relaxed requirements for US steel products. These measures benefit local steel mills, but continue to generate complaints among business groups.