Trump's Decree on Increasing Tariffs on Metallurgical Products: China Converts the Middle Eastern Conflict into a Lever of Control Over the Global Metals Market

On April 2, 2026, the President of the United States signed an executive order imposing 50% tariffs on goods made from aluminum, steel, and copper, significantly increasing pressure on metal imports into the United States, primarily from China.

This decision coincides with a sharp escalation of strikes against metallurgical infrastructure in the Persian Gulf. Up to 70% of Iran’s steelmaking capacity was reportedly destroyed by the United States, according to the Israeli prime minister. 

At the same time, Iranian strikes on the UAE and Bahrain led to a loss of about 9–10% of global aluminum production, creating a supply shortage that pushed U.S. aluminum premiums on April 6 to $2,425 per ton, a 3% increase in a single day.