Donald Trump doubles tariffs on US steel imports - as president takes swipe at China

31 May 2025, 08:07 | Updated: 2 June 2025, 12:03

Tariffs on steel imported into the United States is set to double to 50% under new proposals announced by Donald Trump.

Speaking on Friday evening, Trump announced the US would "be imposing a 25% increase” during the speech at a US Steel facility in Pennsylvania.

“We’re going to bring it from 25% to 50%, the tariffs on steel into the United States of America, which will even further secure the steel industry in the United States.

"Nobody’s going to get around that,” he added.

Trump added the move would help boost the local steel industry and national supply - adding that the move would also reduce reliance on China.

LBC understands UK officials will speak to the US at the "earliest opportunity" to understand these tariffs for Britain.

It comes as the Canadian High Commissioner in the UK, Ralph Goodale, told LBC his country would "respond appropriately" to the levies.

Read more: China hits back at Trump after he accuses it of 'totally violating' tariff agreement

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Speaking with Matt Frei, Mr Goodale said tariffs "would have a major impact both on Canada and the United States."

"In the last couple of months steel prices have inflated in the United States by about 16%. So obviously this is having a costly impact on the US Itself.

"We will respond appropriately," he added, noting Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has not commented since last night's announcement.

"He's always said when you calibrate countermeasures to tariffs, you need to make sure that you're having a more powerful impact in the other country than you are in your own country".

Last night's announcement comes after Trump's previous comments noting he was considering a 40% tariff, but was told by industry bosses they wanted a 50% tariff.

“At 25% they can sorta get over that fence,” he said, adding: “At 50% nobody’s getting over that fence.”

It comes after a temporary pause was put on a lower-court ruling that blocked most of Trump's tariffs earlier this week.

A ruling by the US Court of International Trade found that the President did not have the unilateral authority to issue tariffs for nearly every country.

On Wednesday night, three federal court judges blocked his global tariffs as result.

But the Trump administration told the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit it would seek “emergency relief” from the Supreme Court as early as Friday if the ruling was not quickly paused.

The judgement has now been “temporarily stayed until further notice while this court considers the motions papers,” the appeals court's order said.

It means the tariffs will stay in place while the case makes its way through the courts.

Trump slapped down a 10% tariff on almost every country earlier this year, sparking turmoil in global markets.He also imposed higher rates for some countries including Mexico, Canada and China.

The industry-specific tariff on steel has now surged to 50%, up from 25%. Other industries like aluminium and cars have also previously had tariffs imposed.