Pittsburgh, May 31, 2025 – The Europe Today: U.S. President Donald Trump has declared that the United States will double its existing tariff rate on steel and aluminium imports from 25% to 50%, with the measure set to take effect on Wednesday. The announcement was made during a rally in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania — the historical heart of the American steel industry.
According to media reports, President Trump stated that the increased tariffs are aimed at revitalizing domestic steel production, bolstering national supply chains, and reducing dependence on foreign imports, particularly from China.
Trump also revealed a proposed investment of $14 billion in local steel production through a strategic partnership between U.S. Steel and Japan’s Nippon Steel. However, he later clarified to reporters that the agreement had not yet received final approval.
“This is about America’s future. There will be no layoffs and no outsourcing whatsoever,” President Trump assured the crowd, which included a significant number of steelworkers. “Every U.S. steelworker will soon receive a well-deserved $5,000 bonus,” he added, receiving a standing ovation.
The President’s remarks also addressed longstanding concerns among steelworkers regarding the U.S.-Japan trade partnership, specifically in relation to the enforcement of union contracts that govern employment standards and wage protections.
Trump began his speech by referencing the 25% tariffs he imposed during his first term in 2018, claiming they had “saved” U.S. Steel — the country’s largest steel manufacturer headquartered in Pittsburgh. “At 50%, they can no longer get over the fence,” he said, asserting that the new tariff rate would further ensure the survival and competitiveness of the American steel sector.
“We are once again going to put Pennsylvania steel into the backbone of America, like never before,” Trump declared.
The move marks the latest chapter in President Trump’s dynamic trade policy approach since his return to office in January. U.S. steel manufacturing has faced persistent decline in recent years, with China, India, and Japan emerging as dominant global producers. Currently, approximately 25% of steel consumed in the United States is imported — a figure Trump has frequently cited as a point of contention, particularly concerning steel from Canada and Mexico.
The administration is expected to provide further details on the tariff increase and the U.S.-Japan steel partnership in the coming days.
