Base metals were steady to weaker as US President Donald Trump said he would likely enact tariffs on Mexico and Canada by Feb. 1, hurting market sentiment even as he held off from imposing levies on China.

On his first day back in power, Trump said that he may put import tariffs as high as 25% on goods from the two neighboring nations. That pushed up a gauge of the dollar, which had fallen sharply on Monday, making metals more expensive for most buyers.