Trump Doubles Tariffs On Steel, Aluminum Imports Amid Trade Deadline
Charlie Kirk Staff
06/04/2025

President Donald Trump raised tariffs on steel and aluminum imports to 50% on Wednesday, intensifying pressure on U.S. trading partners to negotiate new trade agreements in order to avoid steeper levies.
In an executive order signed Tuesday, Trump cited national security concerns as justification for doubling the tariffs. The increase coincides with a White House-imposed deadline for trade partners to submit counteroffers in response to the “Liberation Day” tariffs first announced in April.
“In my judgment, the increased tariffs will more effectively counter foreign countries that continue to offload low-priced, excess steel and aluminum in the United States market and thereby undercut the competitiveness of the United States steel and aluminum industries,” Trump wrote in the executive order.
“I have determined that increasing the previously imposed tariffs will provide greater support to these industries and reduce or eliminate the national security threat posed by imports of steel and aluminum articles and their derivative articles,” he added.
Last week, Trump announced plans to raise tariffs on steel and aluminum, claiming it would benefit the industry and American workers.
“Our steel and aluminum industries are coming back like never before. This will be yet another BIG jolt of great news for our wonderful steel and aluminum workers,” he said in a Truth Social post after a speech at a steel plant in Pennsylvania on Friday.
Last month, Trump announced that U.S. Steel would enter a partnership with Japan’s Nippon Steel. Once the world’s largest steel producer, U.S. Steel has faced challenges in recent years and was previously slated to be sold outright to Nippon before the deal was blocked by former President Joe Biden.
Under the new agreement, the company will remain headquartered in Pittsburgh. Trump said the partnership is expected to create 70,000 jobs.
The tariff increases come after White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said American trading partners had been reminded that the deadline to propose new trade agreements with the United States was on Wednesday, saying “the president expects good deals,” adding, “And we are on track for that, I will emphasize.”
Most of Trump’s other reciprocal tariffs have been paused until July 8 in order to allow countries to negotiate acceptable terms with the U.S.
A major trade agreement with the United Kingdom has already been announced, but negotiations with China have proven more difficult. Although China initially agreed to substantially reduce tariffs, President Trump later accused the communist regime of violating the terms of the deal.
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