Trump says he plans to double steel, aluminum tariffs to 50%
(VOVWORLD) - US President Donald Trump said on Friday he planned to increase tariffs on imported steel and aluminum to 50% from 25%, ratcheting up pressure on global steel producers and deepening his trade war.
 US President Donald Trump walks as workers react at US Steel Corporation–Irvin Works in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, US, May 30, 2025. (Photo: REUTERS) |
Trump announced the higher tariffs just outside Pittsburgh, where he was talking up an agreement between Nippon Steel and US Steel.
Trump said the 14.9 billion USD deal, like the tariff increase, will help keep jobs for steel workers in the US. He later posted on social media that the increased tariff would also apply to aluminum products and that it would take effect on Wednesday.
The announcement drew harsh reactions from US trading partners around the world.
Canada's Chamber of Commerce quickly denounced the tariff hike as "antithetical to North American economic security."
The European Commission said on Saturday that Europe is prepared to retaliate. "The EU is prepared to impose countermeasures, including in response to the latest US tariff increase."
Australia's Government also condemned the tariff increase, with Trade Minister Don Farrell calling it "unjustified and not the act of a friend."
The US is the world's largest steel importer, excluding the European Union, with a total of 26.2 million tons of imported steel in 2024, according to the Department of Commerce. Steel and aluminum tariffs were among the earliest put into effect by Trump when he returned to office in January.