President Donald Trump Announces Doubling of Tariffs on Imported Steel to 50% in the United States

President Donald Trump Announces Doubling of Tariffs on Imported Steel to 50% in the United States
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania —
President Donald Trump announced on Friday during a visit to a U.S. Steel plant in suburban Pittsburgh that he will double the tariffs on imported steel to 50%, calling it “a major step to protect America's steel industry.”

Trump said:

“We are adding another 25% on top of the existing 25% tariff — that means a 50% tariff. This will protect American steel mills.”

He later posted on his Truth Social platform that this increased tariff will also apply to aluminum, and it will go into effect on June 4.

Trump's Stance on the Nippon Deal

In his speech, Trump also addressed the planned partnership between U.S. Steel and Japan’s Nippon Steel, offering his support.

“Today we’re celebrating a blockbuster deal that will ensure this historic American company remains American,” he said.

Trump noted that under the deal:

• U.S. Steel’s headquarters will remain in Pittsburgh

• There will be an American CEO

• The majority of board members will be U.S. citizens

He added:

“I approved the deal because Nippon came back several times with revised offers. We haven’t seen the final agreement yet, but I am preparing to approve it.”

He described the deal as a $14 billion investment, claiming it would save and create over 100,000 jobs.

Trump also made the following promises:

• No layoffs

• No outsourcing

• All U.S. Steel workers will receive a $5,000 bonus

• All blast furnaces will operate at full capacity

"Golden Share" & Policy Oversight

Republican Senator David McCormick stated that a key feature of the new deal is the "golden share" mechanism — giving the U.S. government power to approve board members and prevent production cuts.

However, it's still unclear whether the joint U.S. Steel–Nippon entity will include direct U.S. government ownership.

Union Opposition

The United Steelworkers (USW) union has voiced strong opposition to the deal.

USW President David McCall said:

“We were not consulted. The idea of a golden share remains vague. There is a huge gap between promises and reality.”

The union believes Nippon’s proposal is risky for workers and questionable for the long-term employment interests of the U.S.

Risks if Deal Falls Through

U.S. Steel previously warned that without the deal, it may have to scale back blast furnace operations, putting thousands of jobs at risk. The company also raised uncertainty about keeping its headquarters in Pittsburgh.

Quick Stats:

• Current workforce: Over 22,000

• In North America: Over 14,000

• In Slovakia: Remaining employees