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US Doubles Steel and Aluminum Tariffs to 50%, Exempting UK

Washington cites national security to shore up US metals production, triggering backlash from trading partners.

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A worker at the Cleveland Cliffs Cleveland Works steel mill facility in Cleveland, Ohio.
President Donald Trump talks to workers as he tours U.S. Steel Corporation's Mon Valley Works-Irvin plant, Friday, May 30, 2025, in West Mifflin, Pa. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
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Overview

  • Effective June 4, the administration doubled Section 232 tariffs on imported steel and aluminum from 25% to 50%, with Britain maintaining its 25% rate under a preliminary trade pact.
  • Trading partners must submit their “best offers” by June 5 to avoid broader “Liberation Day” duties set to take effect on July 8.
  • The European Union has condemned the hike and is weighing countermeasures, while Canada and Mexico are pressing for carve-outs to shield their exporters.
  • The White House asserts the tariffs will counter foreign dumping and bolster domestic capacity for national security needs.
  • American Iron and Steel Institute praised the move as protection for producers, but groups like the Can Manufacturers Institute warn of higher costs for consumers and downstream industries.