US steel imports fell sharply in January 2026, declining 46.3% y-o-y to 1.6 million short tons. The drop came after a 50% tariff on all steel imports was introduced in June 2025 by President Donald Trump. 

Imports of finished steel products also decreased significantly. In January, finished steel imports totaled 1.2 million short tons, down 45.9% from 2.3 million short tons in the same month of the previous year. 

However, in December 2025, total US steel imports recorded slight growth. Imports rose 4.6% compared with December 2024, when the volume was 1.6 million short tons. Finished steel imports in December 2025 also increased by 7.7% from the 1.6 million tons of December 2024.