Trump Plans to Reduce Steel and Aluminum Tariffs Amid Affordability Crisis
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Feb 13 2026
0mins
U.S. President Donald Trump is planning to reduce some tariffs on steel and aluminum goods as he battles an affordability crisis, Aime Williams and Andy Bounds of The Financial Times reports. The Trump administration is reviewing products affected by the up to 50% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, planning to exempt some items and launch more targeted security probes into specific goods, three people familiar with the matter told the Times. Publicly traded companies in the space include ArcelorMittal (MT), Cleveland-Cliffs (CLF), Nucor (NUE), Steel Dynamics (STLD) and U.S. Steel (X).
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Analyst Views on MT
Wall Street analysts forecast MT stock price to fall
5 Analyst Rating
3 Buy
2 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 52.360
Low
39.00
Averages
44.67
High
49.00
Current: 52.360
Low
39.00
Averages
44.67
High
49.00
About MT
ArcelorMittal SA is a Luxembourg-based holding company. The Company, via its subsidiaries, owns and operates steel, iron ore manufacturing and coal mining facilities in Europe, North and South America, Asia, and Africa. The Company is organized in five operating segments: NAFTA; Brazil; Europe; Africa and Commonwealth of Independent States (ACIS), and Mining. The NAFTA, Brazil, Europe, and ACIS segments produce flat, long, and tubular products including slabs, hot-rolled coil, cold-rolled coil, coated steel products, among others. The Mining segment provides steel operations and comprises all mines owned by the Company in the Americas, Europe, Africa, and countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
ArcelorMittal to Close Two Rolling Mills in Ukraine Amid Energy Crisis
- Energy Crisis Impact: ArcelorMittal's decision to close two rolling mills in Ukraine is a direct response to the energy crisis caused by Russian strikes and stringent EU environmental regulations, highlighting the vulnerability of operations in wartime conditions.
- Significant Job Cuts: The closures may result in up to 3,400 job losses, exacerbating employment pressures in Ukraine and reflecting the company's challenges in maintaining financial viability amid ongoing crises.
- Production Consolidation Strategy: The company plans to consolidate rolling operations across fewer mills to enhance operational efficiency, aiming to tackle soaring electricity costs and comply with the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism.
- Deteriorating Market Environment: Russian attacks on power infrastructure have forced Ukraine to reduce power supplies to businesses and increase imports from the EU, further worsening the economic situation in the region.
See More
European Markets Decline Amid Geopolitical Tensions
- Market Sentiment Decline: European bourses fell on Wednesday, reflecting investor concerns over geopolitical conflicts, particularly escalating tensions in the Middle East, which heightened market risk aversion.
- Cautious Investor Attitude: Due to uncertainties surrounding future economic growth, investors exhibited caution in trading, potentially impacting market liquidity and trading volumes in the short term, thereby exerting pressure on stock prices.
- Sector Impact Notable: The energy and financial sectors showed weakness due to geopolitical tensions, particularly affecting companies linked to the Middle East, highlighting the market's sensitivity to related risks.
- Uncertain Future Outlook: Analysts indicate that if conflicts persist, they could negatively impact global economic recovery, prompting investors to closely monitor developments to adjust their investment strategies.
See More
ArcelorMittal Downgraded Amid Dismal Outlook
- Rating Downgrade Impact: J.P. Morgan analysts downgraded ArcelorMittal (MT) and other European mining and steel companies from Neutral to Underweight, reflecting the negative impact of the Middle East conflict on the continent's growth outlook, which is expected to pressure stock prices.
- Market Reaction: Although ArcelorMittal turned positive late in Monday's trading, it initially declined by 6.5%, indicating the market's sensitivity to the Middle East situation and its potential impact on metal prices.
- Historical Comparison: Analysts noted that the Middle East war could lead to consequences similar to those following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, forecasting over 10% downside risk for European metals and mining equities, reflecting concerns over global economic slowdown.
- Price Forecast Adjustments: J.P. Morgan also revised its price forecasts for copper and iron ore downwards, projecting copper prices to fall to $9,500/ton and iron ore to $90/ton by 2026-27, indicating a pessimistic outlook for future markets.
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- Overview of Updates: While specific upgrades, downgrades, and initiations are not detailed in this article, the overall trend suggests fluctuations in analyst confidence, potentially prompting investors to reassess their stock holdings.
- Investor Consideration: For those considering buying VAL stock, analysts' opinions will serve as a crucial reference point, likely impacting their investment decisions and the stock's market performance.
- Market Dynamics Impact: Changes in analyst ratings typically provoke market reactions, necessitating investors to closely monitor these shifts to adjust their investment strategies accordingly.
See More
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- Sales Beat: Despite the significant losses, the company achieved quarterly sales of $11.133 million, surpassing the analyst consensus of $7.859 million, suggesting some resilience in market demand that could lay the groundwork for future growth.
- Stock Reaction: In pre-market trading, BETA's shares fell 3.1% to $18.67, reflecting a negative investor response to the earnings report, which may lead to increased liquidity pressure in the short term.
- Market Sentiment: The overall market sentiment is bearish, with Dow futures down over 1%, indicating investor concerns about the economic outlook, which could further impact BETA Technologies and other related stocks.
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Dividend Investment Analysis for ArcelorMittal
- Dividend Payment Overview: ArcelorMittal pays an annual dividend of $0.60 per share, distributed quarterly, indicating the company's stable profitability and attracting value investors' interest.
- Importance of Dividend History: According to Dividend Channel, analyzing a company's long-term dividend history is crucial for assessing the likelihood of the latest dividend's continuation, providing investors with essential decision-making insights.
- Investor Focus: Value investors typically seek companies with strong profitability and attractive valuations, and ArcelorMittal utilizes its proprietary DividendRank formula to help investors identify stocks worthy of further research, enhancing investment efficiency.
- Upcoming Ex-Dividend Date: The most recent dividend from ArcelorMittal has an ex-dividend date set for May 13, 2026, which investors should monitor to adjust their investment strategies accordingly.
See More
ArcelorMittal to Close Two Rolling Mills in Ukraine Amid Energy Crisis
- Energy Crisis Impact: ArcelorMittal's decision to close two rolling mills in Ukraine is a direct response to the energy crisis caused by Russian strikes and stringent EU environmental regulations, highlighting the vulnerability of operations in wartime conditions.
- Significant Job Cuts: The closures may result in up to 3,400 job losses, exacerbating employment pressures in Ukraine and reflecting the company's challenges in maintaining financial viability amid ongoing crises.
- Production Consolidation Strategy: The company plans to consolidate rolling operations across fewer mills to enhance operational efficiency, aiming to tackle soaring electricity costs and comply with the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism.
- Deteriorating Market Environment: Russian attacks on power infrastructure have forced Ukraine to reduce power supplies to businesses and increase imports from the EU, further worsening the economic situation in the region.
See More
European Markets Decline Amid Geopolitical Tensions
- Market Sentiment Decline: European bourses fell on Wednesday, reflecting investor concerns over geopolitical conflicts, particularly escalating tensions in the Middle East, which heightened market risk aversion.
- Cautious Investor Attitude: Due to uncertainties surrounding future economic growth, investors exhibited caution in trading, potentially impacting market liquidity and trading volumes in the short term, thereby exerting pressure on stock prices.
- Sector Impact Notable: The energy and financial sectors showed weakness due to geopolitical tensions, particularly affecting companies linked to the Middle East, highlighting the market's sensitivity to related risks.
- Uncertain Future Outlook: Analysts indicate that if conflicts persist, they could negatively impact global economic recovery, prompting investors to closely monitor developments to adjust their investment strategies.
See More
ArcelorMittal Downgraded Amid Dismal Outlook
- Rating Downgrade Impact: J.P. Morgan analysts downgraded ArcelorMittal (MT) and other European mining and steel companies from Neutral to Underweight, reflecting the negative impact of the Middle East conflict on the continent's growth outlook, which is expected to pressure stock prices.
- Market Reaction: Although ArcelorMittal turned positive late in Monday's trading, it initially declined by 6.5%, indicating the market's sensitivity to the Middle East situation and its potential impact on metal prices.
- Historical Comparison: Analysts noted that the Middle East war could lead to consequences similar to those following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, forecasting over 10% downside risk for European metals and mining equities, reflecting concerns over global economic slowdown.
- Price Forecast Adjustments: J.P. Morgan also revised its price forecasts for copper and iron ore downwards, projecting copper prices to fall to $9,500/ton and iron ore to $90/ton by 2026-27, indicating a pessimistic outlook for future markets.
See More
Wall Street Analysts Adjust Ratings
- Analyst Rating Changes: Top Wall Street analysts have adjusted their ratings on several companies, indicating a shift in market sentiment that could influence investor decisions and market trends.
- Overview of Updates: While specific upgrades, downgrades, and initiations are not detailed in this article, the overall trend suggests fluctuations in analyst confidence, potentially prompting investors to reassess their stock holdings.
- Investor Consideration: For those considering buying VAL stock, analysts' opinions will serve as a crucial reference point, likely impacting their investment decisions and the stock's market performance.
- Market Dynamics Impact: Changes in analyst ratings typically provoke market reactions, necessitating investors to closely monitor these shifts to adjust their investment strategies accordingly.
See More
BETA Technologies Reports Disappointing Q4 Results
- Earnings Miss: BETA Technologies reported a Q4 loss of $2.02 per share, significantly worse than the analyst consensus estimate of a loss of $0.84, indicating substantial challenges in profitability that could undermine investor confidence.
- Sales Beat: Despite the significant losses, the company achieved quarterly sales of $11.133 million, surpassing the analyst consensus of $7.859 million, suggesting some resilience in market demand that could lay the groundwork for future growth.
- Stock Reaction: In pre-market trading, BETA's shares fell 3.1% to $18.67, reflecting a negative investor response to the earnings report, which may lead to increased liquidity pressure in the short term.
- Market Sentiment: The overall market sentiment is bearish, with Dow futures down over 1%, indicating investor concerns about the economic outlook, which could further impact BETA Technologies and other related stocks.
See More
Dividend Investment Analysis for ArcelorMittal
- Dividend Payment Overview: ArcelorMittal pays an annual dividend of $0.60 per share, distributed quarterly, indicating the company's stable profitability and attracting value investors' interest.
- Importance of Dividend History: According to Dividend Channel, analyzing a company's long-term dividend history is crucial for assessing the likelihood of the latest dividend's continuation, providing investors with essential decision-making insights.
- Investor Focus: Value investors typically seek companies with strong profitability and attractive valuations, and ArcelorMittal utilizes its proprietary DividendRank formula to help investors identify stocks worthy of further research, enhancing investment efficiency.
- Upcoming Ex-Dividend Date: The most recent dividend from ArcelorMittal has an ex-dividend date set for May 13, 2026, which investors should monitor to adjust their investment strategies accordingly.
See More
