Trump Doubles Tariffs on Steel and Aluminum to 50%, Escalating Trade Tensions

New executive order aims to counter cheap foreign imports, but sparks backlash from EU and global partners as tariff hike takes effect today.

June 4, 2025 | Washington:
In a significant escalation of his trade policy agenda, President Donald Trump has signed an executive order doubling tariffs on imported steel and aluminum to 50%, up from the previous 25%, effective Wednesday. The White House published the order late Tuesday night, marking the latest chapter in Trump’s ongoing trade confrontations with global partners.

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According to the order, the new tariffs are aimed at curbing low-cost, excess metal exports that Trump administration officials argue have undermined U.S. industry competitiveness and threatened national security.

“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.

The tariffs, however, will not apply to imports from the United Kingdom, as both nations continue negotiations on a long-term trade pact that includes provisions for duties and quotas.

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Trump formally unveiled his decision last week during a speech at a U.S. Steel plant in Pennsylvania, assuring workers that their industry would be shielded from foreign exploitation.

“Nobody is going to be able to steal your industry,” he declared. “At 25 percent, they can sort of get over that fence. At 50 percent, they can no longer get over the fence.”

The move has already sparked diplomatic backlash, especially from the European Union, which signaled over the weekend that it is prepared to retaliate. EU officials criticized the decision for undermining ongoing negotiations and warned that the tariffs could damage transatlantic relations.

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The U.S. is currently engaged in sensitive talks with multiple countries after Trump’s earlier blanket 10% tariffs in April and threats of even steeper levies on dozens of trading partners. While these measures were temporarily paused for talks, the pause expires in early July, heightening pressure to finalize agreements.

Since his return to the presidency in January, Trump has implemented sweeping tariffs across sectors, including automobiles, and on countries considered both allies and adversaries, shaking investor confidence and rattling global markets.

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Tags:
Donald Trump, US tariffs, steel tariffs, aluminum tariffs, US trade war, European Union retaliation, UK-US trade, global trade tensions, US import duties, protectionism