Trump to Double Steel and Aluminum Tariffs Despite Court Rulings

U.S. President Donald Trump announced Friday he would double tariffs on imported steel and aluminum to 50%, despite recent court rulings that put the kibosh on the authority he was using to implement global tariffs.

“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,” Trump said at a rally at U.S. Steel’s Mon Valley Works facility near Pittsburgh, as reported by REUTERS.

The announcement came as Trump promoted a $14.9 billion acquisition deal between Japanese-owned Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel, which he said, like the tariff hike, would help preserve American steel jobs.

He later wrote on social media that the increased tariff would apply to aluminum products as well and take effect on Wednesday, June 4th. “It is my great honor to raise the Tariffs on steel and aluminum from 25% to 50%, effective Wednesday, June 4th… This will be yet another BIG jolt of great news for our wonderful steel and aluminum workers,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

“At 25% they can sorta get over that fence,” Trump said. “At 50% nobody’s getting over that fence.”

The move follows court rulings that ruled Trump could not use the International Economic Emergency Powers Act to impose tariffs. Administration officials have indicated they will continue relying on Section 232 of the 1962 Trade Expansion Act to enforce duties, as reported by POLITICO.

The U.S. imported 26.2 million tons of steel in 2024, excluding the EU, according to the Department of Commerce. Analysts expect the higher tariffs to raise prices across industries and potentially impact consumers.

Steel and aluminum tariffs were among the first imposed by Trump after returning to office in January. The 25% tariffs implemented in March were followed by the elimination of product-level exemptions and the cancellation of Biden-era deals with Japan, the U.K., and the EU.

While Trump credited tariffs for reviving the steel industry, a 2023 International Trade Commission analysis found that the 2018 tariffs led to higher costs for cars, tools, and machines, reducing industry output by more than $3 billion.