The United States’ recent surge in steel prices has stalled as many businesses feel “paralysed” by uncertainty about import tariffs, according to MEPS’s new podcast.

Speaking to MEPS managing editor Tom Sharpe in a short-form Market in Minutes episode of the Speaking of Steel podcast, US steel market analyst Laura Hodges said: “I hate to say the word paralysed, but companies cannot plan ahead with this type of uncertainty.

“As for the outlook, we actually have prices continuing that ‘breather’ for the next couple of months, primarily just due to the uncertainty. I think that prices are going to sit in this holding pattern in May and into June. After that I think we see prices start to fall back.”