PITTSBURGH, May 30, 2025 — President Donald Trump announced Friday that the United States will double tariffs on steel imports from 25% to 50%, escalating his trade war to bolster American industry. Speaking at U.S. Steel’s Irvin Works in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, Trump said the move would “further secure the steel industry,” claiming that at 50%, foreign competitors “can no longer get over the fence.” The announcement, met with applause from steelworkers, coincides with Trump’s approval of a partnership between U.S. Steel and Japan’s Nippon Steel, which he said includes a $14 billion investment and a $5,000 bonus for workers.
The tariff hike, effective immediately, follows a March 12 imposition of 25% tariffs on global steel and aluminum imports under Section 232, citing national security. Canada, the largest steel supplier to the U.S., faces significant impact, despite earlier exemptions for USMCA-compliant goods. Economists warn that higher tariffs could raise costs for industries like construction and manufacturing, potentially increasing consumer prices. The move has sparked global retaliation, with the European Union previously announcing countermeasures on $28 billion of U.S. goods, later rescinded. Critics, including the Cato Institute, argue that tariffs may drive inflation and risk economic slowdown, while Trump insists they will bring jobs back to America.
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