Tag: steel and aluminum tariffs

Surge to 50% Steel and Aluminum Tariffs: On June 4, 2025, the Trump administration unilaterally raised tariffs on imported steel and aluminum from 25% to 50%, invoking Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 (19 U.S.C. § 1862) to justify national security concerns (The Guardian 2025). This executive action reflects a broader pattern of protectionist trade measures stretching back to early 2018, when initial 25% steel and 10% aluminum tariffs were first imposed. By doubling these rates, the administration underscored an acute sense of economic competition with producers in China, the European Union, and other major exporters. The core contention rests on whether raw materials are legitimately vital to military readiness and critical infrastructure, or merely a pretext for shielding domestic industries.

Steel and Aluminum Tariffs: On June 4, 2025, President Donald J. Trump’s administration enacted a sweeping increase in U.S. import duties on steel and aluminum, doubling the tariff rate from 25 percent to 50 percent on most trading partners. At the same time, Washington imposed a firm deadline for foreign governments to submit their “best offers” to negotiate exemptions under broader trade terms slated to take effect on July 8, including what the administration has termed its “Liberation Day” tariffs. Aside from the United Kingdom—which secured a preliminary agreement on May 8, maintaining a 25 percent steel and aluminum rate until July 9—no other nation had finalized a deal by the June 4 deadline. In the words of Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, “These measures reinforce American sovereignty and send a clear message: we will not tolerate unfair trade practices” (Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, June 4, 2025).