Overall economic conditions in the U.S., Europe, the United Kingdom, and elsewhere, including adverse factors such as inflation, rising or sustained elevated interest rates, supply chain disruptions, and geopolitical conflicts including the impacts from the Russia-Ukraine conflict, significantly impact our business. Periods of economic downturn or continued uncertainty could result in us having difficulty increasing or maintaining our level of sales or profitability and we may experience an adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows.
Our U.S. operations are subject to economic conditions, including credit and capital market conditions, inflation, prevailing interest rates, and political factors which, if changed, could negatively affect our results of operations, cash flows and liquidity. Political factors include, but are not limited to, changes in administration resulting in increased or newly imposed tariffs, increased regulation such as carbon emissions, limitations on trading including the export of energy and raw materials, trade remedies, and changes to tax laws and regulations resulting in increased income tax liability. Actions taken by the U.S. government could affect our results of operations, cash flows and liquidity.
We are subject to economic conditions and political factors associated with the European Union, the United Kingdom and neighboring countries, and the euro currency. Changes in any of these economic conditions or political factors could negatively affect our results of operations, cash flows and liquidity. Political factors include, but are not limited to, taxation, nationalization, inflation, government instability, regional conflict, civil unrest, increased regulation and quotas, tariffs, sanctions, and other market-distorting measures. Continued uncertainty and economic downturn in the European market throughout 2024, as well as the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict have had a broad range of adverse impacts on global economic conditions, many of which have had, and are likely to continue to have, adverse impacts on our business and the business of our customers including increased raw material and energy costs, softer customer demand and lower steel prices, which has led, and may lead in the future, to the temporary idling of a portion of our customers' raw steel capability until the demand environment improves. These uncertain conditions in the European market could lead to adverse effects on the valuation of our long-lived assets, which could negatively affect our results of operations through potential impairment charges.
Additionally, we are also exposed to risks associated with the business success and creditworthiness of our suppliers and customers. If our customers or suppliers are negatively impacted by a slowdown in economic markets, we may face reduction, delay or cancellation of customer orders; delays or interruptions of the supply of raw materials; and increased risk of insolvency and other credit related issues of customers or suppliers, which could delay payments from customers, result in increased customer defaults and cause our suppliers to delay filling our needs on a timely or cost-effective basis, or at all. The occurrence of any of these events may adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows.