U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Friday that steel and aluminum tariffs will be doubled to 50% starting next week, marking a significant escalation in his administration’s protectionist trade agenda. Speaking at a U.S. Steel facility in Pennsylvania—a key swing state—Trump emphasized the move as a crucial step to safeguard American manufacturing jobs. The tariff hike will come into effect on Wednesday, June 4.
Trump told a crowd of steelworkers that the current 25% tariff on steel imports would be raised to 50%, asserting that no country would be able to bypass the stricter trade measure. Shortly after the speech, he confirmed on Truth Social that the higher tariff rate would also apply to aluminum imports.
The decision is part of a broader trade policy revival since Trump returned to office in January. His administration has reimposed sweeping tariffs on both allies and adversaries, reigniting tensions within the global trade system and triggering volatility in financial markets. Earlier in the week, a court ruled that Trump had exceeded his authority in implementing certain tariffs. However, an appellate court cleared the way for the levies to remain in place while legal proceedings continue.
In his address, Trump defended his overall tariff strategy, claiming it had saved domestic facilities like the one in Mon Valley where he spoke. He linked the facility’s ongoing operations directly to the imposition of metal tariffs during his first term.
Trump also used the occasion to promote a proposed partnership between U.S. Steel and Japan’s Nippon Steel, though he provided few new details. Despite bipartisan opposition and national security concerns raised during the deal’s initial proposal under the previous administration, Trump signaled a more measured stance, noting that the final agreement had not yet received his approval. He underscored that U.S. Steel would remain under American control, with no expected layoffs or outsourcing.
The original $14.9 billion proposed acquisition of U.S. Steel by Nippon Steel had been blocked by former President Joe Biden shortly before leaving office. Trump, who had previously opposed the deal during his campaign, now appears open to a modified partnership structure. He stressed that the headquarters of U.S. Steel would stay in Pittsburgh and claimed the deal could create 70,000 jobs and add $14 billion to the U.S. economy.
As part of the proposal, Nippon Steel would invest $2.2 billion to expand operations at the Mon Valley Works–Irvin Plant in Pennsylvania. An additional $7 billion would be allocated to modernizing steel mills, expanding iron ore mining, and building facilities in other states, including Indiana and Minnesota.
Despite Trump’s assurances, concerns persist. The United Steelworkers (USW) union, which represents thousands of hourly workers at U.S. Steel facilities, issued a statement following the announcement, clarifying that it had not been consulted on the planned partnership. USW International President David McCall expressed caution, noting that the union had not been included in discussions with either Nippon Steel or the Trump administration.
McCall emphasized that the union’s main concern lies in how a potential merger with a foreign competitor might affect national security, workers’ livelihoods, and the local communities. He warned that the implications of the deal depend heavily on its structure, adding that “the devil is always in the details.”
As the trade and industrial policy landscape evolves under Trump’s renewed presidency, the steel sector remains at the center of both political debate and economic recalibration.
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