TMTPOST -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed a proclamation to raised tariffs on steel and aluminum imports into the country to 50% from 25%, taking into effect on June 4, Wednesday.

Credit：Xinhua News Agency

This is the second time that Trump hiked tariffs on steel and aluminum imports in nearly three months. The president on February 10 signed an order to impose 25% steel and aluminum tariffs starting March 12. He in the meantime removed the exemptions from his 2018 tariffs on steel, meaning that all steel imports should be taxed at a minimum of 25%, and also raises his 2018 aluminum tariffs from 10% to 25%.

In the proclamation released by the White House, Trump said he had determined it is necessary to raise these tariffs “so that such imports will not threaten to impair the national security.”  “ In my judgment, the increased tariffs will more effectively counter foreign countries that continue to offload low-priced, excess steel and aluminum in the United States market and thereby undercut the competitiveness of the United States steel and aluminum industries,” said Trump. 

Trump also had determined that raising the tariffs will provide greater support to steel and aluminum industries and reduce or eliminate the national security threat posed by relevant imports, because previously imposed tariffs have not yet enabled these industries to develop and maintain the rates of capacity production utilization that are necessary for the industries’ sustained health and for projected national defense needs.

The new steel and aluminum tariffs will apply to imports from all the U.S. trading partners except the United Kingdom. Trump in the proclamation said he had decided that it is necessary and appropriate to allow for the implementation of the U.S.-UK Economic Prosperity Deal of May 8, 2025 (EPD), and to accordingly provide different treatment for U.K. exports to U.S. On or after July 9, the U.S. Commerce Secretary may increase the applicable rates of duty to 50% if he determined that the U.K. has not complied with relevant aspects of the EPD, according to the proclamation.

Trump last Friday announced he made the decision to raise steel and aluminum tariffs as the move would “even further secure the steel industry in the United States”, adding that “nobody is going to get around that.” He told people in U.S. Steel’s Irvin Plant in Pennsylvania that he previously considered a 40% tariff, but changed his mind after industry experts recommended a rate of 50%.  “At 25% they can sorta get over that fence,” Trump said. “At 50% nobody’s getting over that fence.”

Some U.S. industry bodies noted tariffs aren’t the only solution needed to boost U.S. manufacturing. “While tariffs, used strategically, serve as a valuable tool in balancing the scales, it’s essential that we also pursue wider reforms of our global trading system,” David McCall, international president of the United Steelworkers union said in a statement. McCall believed that  work must be done “in collaboration with trusted allies” like Canada — the top exporter of steel and aluminum to the U.S. — to help “contain the bad actors.”

The Aluminum Association appreciates Trump’s continued focus on strengthening the U.S. aluminum industry, but that “tariffs alone will not increase U.S. primary aluminum production” said Matt Meenan, the trade group’s vice president of external affairs.

The European Union and U.K. suggested they would resolve trade conflicts through negotiations with the Trump administration. 

UK Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds’ office on Tuesday said it was "pleased" that the trade talks had protected UK steel from the latest duties."We will continue to work with the U.S. to implement our agreement, which will see the 25% U.S. tariffs on steel removed," Reynolds said.

The EU and the U.S. were engaged in intense talks to work to make progress toward an agreement,  European Commission spokesperson Olof Gill told BBC on Tuesday. "We really hope that the Americans will roll back on this latest tariff threat, as they have done on others, but that remains to be seen," Gill said.