Trump doubles metal tariffs to 50%

The U.S. has doubled import tariffs on steel and aluminium to 50% in a move President Trump says is aimed at protecting national security and supporting domestic industry. While the UK is exempt due to a recent trade agreement, the hike is expected to raise costs and spark trade tensions with other global partners.

President Trump has issued an order that doubles U.S. import duties on foreign steel and aluminium to 50%, the second increase since March. He argues the steep hike is necessary to defend national security by preventing low-priced, excess metal from abroad from undercutting American producers. Although this move is intended to shore up the domestic steel industry, critics warn it could trigger trade disputes and raise costs for U.S. companies that rely on these raw materials.

The United Kingdom is exempt for now, having secured a separate deal with Washington last month, a carve-out that offers London temporary relief while leaving most other nations exposed to the higher rate.

Steel and aluminium feed into everything from cars and appliances to construction beams and canned goods, so economists expect price pressures to ripple through the economy. U.S. steel prices have already climbed 16 percent this year, touching \$4,984 per metric ton in March—well above prevailing levels in China and Europe.

Industry reaction is mixed. United Steelworkers’ interim president David McCall supports targeted tariffs but urges broader overhauls to global trade rules and deeper cooperation with allies such as Canada. The Aluminium Association’s Matt Meenan welcomes the focus on domestic metal but cautions that tariffs alone won’t revive primary aluminium production; firms also need consistent, predictable policy to justify new investment.

Outside the UK, affected trading partners—including the European Union—are weighing retaliation. The EU has paused countermeasures for now but says it will respond if negotiations stall. Whether the tariff escalation ultimately secures American manufacturing or sparks a wider trade confrontation remains uncertain.