Trump to raise steel and aluminum tariffs to 50%
3 Min Read
Trump announces 50% steel tariffs under Section 232 to protect the US steel industry, following a Nippon Steel partnership and new levies on EU goods and smartphones.
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President Donald Trump dances after speaking at the U.S. Steel Mon Valley Works-Irvin plant, Friday, May 30, 2025, in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania. (AP)
US President Donald Trump announced his intention to increase tariffs on steel imports into the United States during a rally in Pennsylvania on Friday.
Trump stated at the rally that the increased tariff rate would "even further secure the steel industry in the United States," as he addressed steelworkers following his announcement last week of a "partnership" between the historic US company and its Japanese competitor, Nippon Steel.
In a Truth Social post on Friday evening following the event, Trump announced that the higher tariff rate would go into effect starting Wednesday.
This week, a federal court dealt a blow to many of Trump's tariffs, ruling them illegal and ordering their halt, though an appeals court later temporarily paused that decision. Steel tariffs remained unaffected since Trump had imposed them under a different legal authority, leaving them untouched by the court's ruling.
Invoking Section 232 of the 1962 Trade Expansion Act, Trump exercised his presidential authority to implement tariffs on steel, aluminum, and automobiles, justifying the measures as necessary for national security protection.
Trump assures workers while reigniting tensions
Speaking to steelworkers on Friday, Trump reaffirmed his dedication to strengthening the US steel industry, declaring that foreign competitors could bypass earlier trade barriers but would be completely blocked by the new 50% tariff.
“At 25 percent, they [foreign competitors] can sort of get over that fence. At 50 percent, they can no longer get over that fence," Trump announced.
The tariffs, however, could renew the tensions between Washington and its neighbor Canada, which constituted the top steel exporter to the United States, sending 6.6 million tons of steel to American buyers.
This development comes amid a renewed intensification of Donald Trump's tariff bombardment to bolster production and manufacturing in the United States.
On May 23, Trump confirmed his administration's plan to impose 50% tariffs on EU goods effective June 1, stating this would only be avoided if European manufacturers relocated production to the United States, emphasizing that he is not looking for a deal.
"I am not looking for a deal. I mean, we've set the deal. It's at 50%, but again, there is no tariff if they build their plant here," Trump stated from the Oval Office, adding that while the EU was looking to make a deal, their offering was lacking.
Trump also revealed intentions to implement a broad 25% tariff on all smartphones not produced in the United States, a policy that would affect global tech companies, including but not limited to Apple, while potentially escalating international trade disputes.
