A decision by US President Donald Trump to place a 25% tariff on all steel and aluminium imports has left some of the US's major trade partners scrambling to make a deal.

President Donald Trump on Monday expanded his steel and aluminum tariffs to cover all imports, effectively canceling deals with the European Union, the United Kingdom, Japan and others. The new executive orders build off the 25 percent tariff on steel and the 10 percent tariff on aluminum Trump imposed in 2018 during his first administration by raising duties,

President Donald Trump ordered a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum imports, escalating his efforts to protect politically important US industries with levies hitting some of the country’s closest allies.

Asian economies are striving to avert Trump tariffs as they have hefty trade surpluses with the U.S. and levy much higher duties on imports from the country.

Economists are warning the next stage of Donald Trump’s trade war would open new fronts across Asia, with India and Thailand among the nations most exposed to risks from the US president’s vow to impose reciprocal tariffs on partners.