** Shares of BlueScope Steel BSL.AX rise 2.7% to A$22.09, their highest levels since December 2, 2024
** U.S. President Donald Trump to announce new 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports into the United States
** North America forms BlueScope's biggest revenue-generating geography, having accounted for about 43.9% of its total sales in fiscal 2024 ** Given BlueScope exports ~200kt of steel, brokerage expects A$80m drag to co's FY26 average selling price ASP earnings
** Given Jefferies' FY26 production estimate of 3mt at North Star, one of the co's North American business, co would require a $15-$20/t uplift in North Star to offset the ASP impact, says brokerage
** Jefferies said protectionism on the U.S. steel industry should provide a tailwind for the prices of hot-rolled coil, a type of steel, and is positive for BlueScope
** Stock up 15.1% this year, as of last close
(Reporting by Sherin Sunny in Bengaluru)
((Sherin.Sunny@thomsonreuters.com;))