8.5 percent of exports to US subject to tariffs on steel and aluminium
In 2024, the Netherlands exported goods to the US worth 38.4 billion euros. That was 5.7 percent of the Netherlands’ total export value, making the US the fifth largest export market for the Netherlands. After the UK, the US is the Netherlands’ second largest export destination outside the EU.
Half of the goods exported to the US were in the categories of machinery and equipment (33 percent) and manufactured goods (18 percent). This includes goods that have been subject to US import tariffs on steel and aluminium (products) since March 2025. In addition, some goods and components for transportation equipment are also partially subject to these import tariffs.
| Jaar | Domestic exports1) (bn euros) | Re-exports (bn euros) |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 8.2 | 3.2 |
| 2003 | 7.8 | 3.7 |
| 2004 | 7.9 | 4.1 |
| 2005 | 9.1 | 4.5 |
| 2006 | 11.2 | 5.0 |
| 2007 | 11.5 | 5.6 |
| 2008 | 10.8 | 5.6 |
| 2009 | 8.5 | 5.4 |
| 2010 | 9.7 | 7.2 |
| 2011 | 12.3 | 7.3 |
| 2012 | 13.5 | 6.8 |
| 2013 | 11.1 | 5.8 |
| 2014 | 13.5 | 5.5 |
| 2015 | 13.7 | 4.3 |
| 2016 | 13.2 | 4.5 |
| 2017 | 14.3 | 5.5 |
| 2018 | 16.8 | 6.3 |
| 2019 | 18.8 | 7.8 |
| 2020 | 16.5 | 7.7 |
| 2021 | 20.9 | 7.3 |
| 2022 | 23.9 | 9.5 |
| 2023* | 23.5 | 10.3 |
| 2024* | 27.0 | 11.4 |
| 1)goods produced in the Netherlands | ||
Steel and aluminium products worth 3.3 billion euros
The US raised its import tariffs on steel and aluminium to 25 percent in March 2025. These tariffs apply to all countries and, in addition to metal goods in their unprocessed form, they also apply to almost 300 derived products, such as components and packaging materials. In 2024, companies in the Netherlands exported steel and aluminium products with a value of 3.3 billion euros to the US. The US is the second most important market for these products for the Netherlands, after Germany. Exports of aluminium (and derived products) to the US alone had an export value of 2.3 billion euros in 2024.
The current set of import tariffs include some that President Trump first imposed in 2018. These were later removed by the Biden administration, but have now been reinstated. Under the current package of import tariffs on steel and aluminium (and derived products), 8.5 percent of the Netherlands’ total exports to the US by value are subject to import tariffs.
| Goederen | Aluminium20251) | Steel20182) | Aluminium20183) | Steel20254) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Export value | 2.16 | 0.88 | 0.16 | 0.05 |
| 1) Goods subject to the new tariffs on aluminium 2) Goods subject to the reinstated 2018 tariffs on steel 3) Goods subject to the reinstated 2018 tariffs on aluminium 4) Goods subject to the new tariffs on steel | ||||
29 percent of import tariffs relate to machinery and components
Dutch exporters of specialised machinery and components are being hit the hardest by the new tariff regime of the US. The value of exports of these goods to the US was 921 million euros in 2024. Aircraft and related components accounted for 16 percent of the export value affected. Of the goods that were also subject to import tariffs in 2018, flat-rolled steel and iron products represent the largest export value - worth 853 million euros in 2024.
| Goederen | Export value |
|---|---|
| Specialist machinery and components | 930.8 |
| Shaped or flat products in iron or steel | 852.5 |
| Aircraft and aircraft components | 668.1 |
| Vehicle components | 154.2 |
| Other | 650.6 |