President Donald Trump announced Friday that he will double tariffs on imported steel and aluminum, raising them from 25% to 50%.
The decision, he said, is aimed at protecting American jobs and giving US steelworkers a stronger future.
The announcement was made at a US Steel plant near Pittsburgh, where Trump told cheering workers that the new tariff would take effect on Wednesday, June 4.
"Nobody's going to get around that," Trump said, explaining that a 50% tariff would stop foreign competition from undercutting US producers, CNN said.
The increase follows earlier 25% tariffs imposed in March. Trump also confirmed that aluminum products would be affected.
He posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, "It is my great honor to raise the tariffs... This will be yet another BIG jolt of great news for our wonderful steel and aluminum workers."
While steel company stocks jumped after the news — Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. rose 26% after market hours — many US allies were quick to respond with criticism.
Canada's Chamber of Commerce called the move "a threat to North American economic security." Its United Steelworkers union said the decision was a direct attack on Canadian jobs.
TRUMP PROTECTS AMERICAN STEEL 🇺🇸
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) May 30, 2025
"We are going to be imposing a 25% increase. We're going to bring it from 25% to 50%—the tariffs on steel into the United States of America—which will even further secure the steel industry in the United States." –President Donald J. Trump 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/ASaAjXxLDE
Canada Tops US Steel Imports as Tariff Tensions Rise
Europe also responded strongly. A spokesperson for the European Commission warned that the EU was "prepared to impose countermeasures."
Australia's Trade Minister Don Farrell added that the decision was "unjustified and not the act of a friend."
The US is the world's largest steel importer outside the European Union, bringing in over 26 million tons of steel last year.
Canada was the top exporter, sending more than $7.6 billion worth of steel and iron into the US, according to government data.
While the tariffs are meant to help US steelworkers, some worry that they could raise costs for industries that use steel, like construction and car manufacturing.
A 2023 government report showed that earlier tariffs helped steel producers but cost other industries more than $3 billion in lost output.
According to Reuters, Trump also used the moment to back a $14.9 billion deal between US Steel and Japan's Nippon Steel.
Although he once opposed the sale, Trump said the final agreement included protections for American workers. "Every time they came in, the deal got better and better," he said.
With new tariffs in place and foreign investment on the way, Trump told steelworkers, "This is going to be one of the biggest days in your life."
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