On 11 March, an ocean freighter from India arrived at the Port of Tampa Bay, carrying hundreds of tons of aluminum but was instructed to unload the entire shipment without warning.
The freighter, which was carrying aluminum intended for window frames and semi-truck parts, was initially scheduled to make additional stops in Mobile, Alabama, and Houston. But with U.S. tariffs set to take effect the next day, the logistics provider’s client decided to cancel those remaining deliveries. At 12:01 a.m. on 12 March, U.S. Customs and Border Protection began enforcing a 25% import duty on all raw steel and aluminum products.
According to the Bloomberg report, in an effort to avoid these tariffs, the Tampa Bay shippers realized it would be more cost-effective to transport the aluminum by expensive flatbed trucks to its other destinations, rather than pay the new duties, according to Jose Severin, business development manager for Mercury Resources, the logistics provider.
Furthermore, as reported, Trump confirmed the U.S. would pause tariffs on goods and services compliant with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) until 2 April.
Canada retaliated to the steel and aluminum tariffs with new duties on about $20 billion of U.S. goods, however the two countries have agreed to new trade talks.
The European Union also has announced countermeasures to defend European interests.
To remind, the tariffs on aluminum were increased from 10% to 25%, and were extended to additional products, including household items like cookware and window frames, as well as products partially made from steel or aluminum, such as machinery, gym equipment, electrical appliances, and furniture.
