Ukraine’s steel industry, already crippled by Russia’s 3-year invasion, faces a new threat: Trump’s 25% steel tariffs. The Zaporizhstal Iron and Steelworks, a linchpin of Ukraine’s economy, now battles both wartime disruptions and potential U.S. trade barriers. Plant supervisor Serhii Zhyvotchenko captured the exhaustion: “Morale is not as high… We must endure.”
President Trump’s February 10 executive order risks costing Ukraine’s steel sector $58 million annually. With exports already halved since Russia’s invasion, Kyiv seeks urgent exemptions:
“Maintaining tariff exemptions enables Ukrainian steel exporters to sustain operations and resist Russian aggression,” — Ukrainian Steel Association
Critical challenges compound the crisis:
- Energy costs surged 300% after Russian grid attacks
- 12% workforce reduction due to military drafts
- 1 million tons of annual coal imports required
The Metinvest Group, operating at 75% capacity, warns of ripple effects if Europe mimics U.S. tariffs. COO Oleksandr Myronenko stressed: “This will be a very significant problem.” With 80% of exports EU-bound, Bulgaria’s Metinvest plant faces $24M tax losses from pending rebar duties.
Ukraine’s Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko argues U.S.-bound steel constitutes just 0.81% of American imports. However, Trump’s direct talks with Putin and NATO skepticism heighten fears of sidelined Kyiv. As railcars haul molten steel through Zaporizhzhia’s dystopian landscape, workers echo Myronenko’s resolve: “We must work.”
