Trump Signs Order Doubling US Steel And Aluminum Tariffs To 50 Per Cent From Today, UK Excluded From Hike

The United States will hike tariffs on imported steel and aluminum to 50 per cent starting today (4 June), as per the latest order signed by President Donald Trump, according to the White House, AFP reported.

This escalation is the latest in Trump’s trade offensive, raising existing duties on steel and aluminum from 25 per cent to 50 per cent.

Imports from the UK, however, will continue facing a 25 per cent tariff as the two nations work out duties and quotas in line with the terms of their earlier trade pact.

The order justifies the hike as a move to "more effectively counter" nations dumping cheap steel and aluminum, which it says harms American industry competitiveness.

"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 added.

Trump first revealed the tariff increase during a speech to workers at a US Steel facility in Pennsylvania last week.

"Nobody is going to be able to steal your industry," he said at the time.

"At 25 percent, they can sort of get over that fence. At 50 percent, they can no longer get over the fence," he added.

The decision risks inflaming tensions with major US trade allies.

The European Union responded over the weekend, warning that it may retaliate against the new tariffs.

Brussels criticised the move, saying it "undermines ongoing efforts to reach a negotiated solution" with Washington.

Negotiations are already underway with several nations after Trump slapped a blanket 10 per cent tariff in April, with higher rates threatened for multiple economies.

The steeper tariffs remain on hold during talks, but this pause ends in early July—adding pressure to finalise deals swiftly.

Since his return to office in January, Trump has levied broad tariffs on both allies and rivals, sending ripples through global markets.

Beyond metals, he’s also targeted sectors like automobiles with fresh import tariffs.

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