Tariffs raise import and export concerns, TP304 steel sheet market expects policy easing

The United States has imposed multiple tariffs on stainless steel from China since August 2024, and by April 2025, the cumulative tax rate has reached 45% (if combined with the latest so-called "equivalent tariffs", the tax rate for some goods can even reach 125%). This policy has directly led to a significant increase in the export cost of Chinese stainless steel products, especially affecting products such as kitchenware and household appliances. According to estimates, the export volume of stainless steel products from China to the United States in 2024 is about 238800 tons, of which kitchenware accounts for 25% of the total export volume of stainless steel kitchenware. At present, the market is concerned about the short-term import and export of TP304 steel sheets in China, and hopes that the subsequent negotiation and game between China and the United States will ease the policy. At the same time, it is also waiting for positive macro policies in China (incremental policies, increased investment in infrastructure construction) to respond.