Trump Doubles Tariffs on Steel and Aluminum Imports, Escalating Trade Tensions

The United States is set to double tariffs on imported steel and aluminum starting Wednesday, marking a significant escalation in President Donald Trump’s ongoing trade war.

The White House released an official order signed by Trump, increasing the levies on both metals from 25% to 50%, a move aimed at protecting domestic industries from what the administration calls unfair foreign competition.

While the higher tariffs will apply broadly, the UK has been granted a temporary exemption. Imports from the United Kingdom will remain subject to the existing 25% rate as both nations continue negotiations to finalize trade terms under a previously agreed pact.

According to the presidential order, the tariff hike is designed to combat “foreign countries that continue to offload low-priced, excess steel and aluminum in the United States,” which the administration says undermines American manufacturers and poses a threat to national security.

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“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,” the order stated.

Trump previewed the move last week during a speech at a U.S. Steel plant in Pennsylvania, where he vowed to protect American jobs and industries from what he described as foreign encroachment. “Nobody is going to be able to steal your industry,” he said. “At 25 percent, they can sort of get over that fence. At 50 percent, they can no longer get over the fence.”

The decision, however, has sparked fresh tensions with key trading partners. The European Union warned over the weekend that it is prepared to retaliate, accusing Washington of undermining diplomatic efforts to reach a negotiated settlement. EU officials said the announcement jeopardizes ongoing talks and could trigger countermeasures.

The latest hike follows a broader strategy adopted by Trump since returning to the presidency in January. In April, his administration imposed sweeping 10% tariffs on imports from nearly all trading partners and announced the potential for even higher duties targeting dozens of countries.

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Although many of those measures were temporarily paused during negotiations, the current truce is set to expire in early July—raising the stakes for international trade diplomacy.

Beyond steel and aluminum, the Trump administration has also levied tariffs on other sectors, including the auto industry, signaling a wider effort to reshape U.S. trade relationships.

With global markets watching closely, the move underscores a renewed era of aggressive trade policy from the White House—one that could reshape economic relations with allies and adversaries alike. As negotiations continue, the world waits to see how far this new phase of tariff-driven diplomacy will go.