Trump Announces Doubling Steel Tariffs to 50% as of June 4
The announcement comes as Nippon Steel, Japan’s largest steel producer, finalizes a multi-billion-dollar acquisition of U.S. Steel.
President Donald Trump has announced a significant increase in steel tariffs, raising the rate from 25% to 50% as of June 4, 2025.
The move, introduced during Trump’s remarks at a U.S. Steel plant rally in Pennsylvania, aims to encourage domestic steel production, support American workers, and address what he described as “unfair global trade practices.”
Trump later posted this update on Truth Social, mentioning that the tariffs would apply to aluminum as well. He stated that “[America’s] steel and aluminum industries are coming back like never before.”
It remains unclear how this action will impact the trade deal that was negotiated earlier this month with the United Kingdom (UK), in which tariffs on steel and aluminum were reduced to zero.
This development builds on earlier actions taken under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, which allows the U.S. government to impose import restrictions based on national security concerns.
Previous steel-related proclamations include:
A new proclamation reflecting the updated 50% steel tariff is expected to be published soon.
The announcement comes as Nippon Steel, Japan’s largest steel producer, is in the process of finalizing a multi-billion-dollar acquisition of U.S. Steel.
Trump stated that Nippon Steel has committed to a $14 billion investment in U.S. Steel, a deal that would create “at least 70,000 jobs”.
He asserted that the company would “remain in America.”
While Trump had opposed the transaction during his 2024 campaign, he now described the partnership as a “blockbuster agreement.”
The United Steelworkers (USW), North America's largest industrial union, had opposed Nippon Steel’s bid to acquire U.S. Steel and responded cautiously to the tariff announcement.
USW President David McCall stated that the union "cannot speculate about the impact" of Trump’s decision "without more information."
He reiterated the union’s concern that Nippon could weaken U.S. steelmaking capacity and put thousands of union jobs at risk.
The agreement between U.S. Steel and Nippon Steel is yet to be finalized, approved, and officially announced.
While U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has not yet issued formal guidance on the updated steel tariffs, importers should begin assessing the operational and financial implications.
Key actions to consider include:
At Cole International, we constantly monitor changing trade regulations and offer customs and compliance consulting services to help businesses navigate these changes.
Additionally, we provide timely and efficient customs brokerage services to help U.S. importers streamline their customs clearance and other import processes.
Please reach out to one of our trade professionals to learn more about this increase in steel tariffs, the impact on your business, and available risk mitigation strategies.