Trump doubles US tariffs on steel and aluminum-except Great Britain!

Trump doubles US tariffs on steel and aluminum-except Great Britain!

Vereinigte Staaten - President Donald Trump doubled the import duties on steel and aluminum on June 4, 2025. The new duty rate is now 50 percent after the tariffs were previously 25 percent. This measure came into force at 6:01 a.m. CEST and affects the steel and aluminum imports that are supposed to endanger the national security of the United States, as Trump argues. Great Britain is excluded from the new tariffs, and 25 percent still apply. This increase could heat the prices for consumers, especially for cars, kitchen appliances and canned goods.

Trump relies on the goal of correcting commercial -making weights and strengthening domestic industry. He had already used tariffs in the past to achieve more advantageous trade agreements. In 2024, the United States was the largest steel importer in 2024, with important countries of origin Canada, Brazil and Mexico, while aluminum imports are mainly from Canada, the United Arab Emirates, China and South Korea. A quarter of the steel used in the USA is imported, with aluminum the value is even over 40 percent.

criticism and countermeasures of the EU

The EU Commission sharply criticized Trump's announcement and promised a reaction. A meeting between the EU trade commissioner Maros Sevcovic and the US trade officer Jamieson Greer is planned to negotiate the situation. In response to the elevated tariffs, the EU could improve American products such as jeans, motorcycles, beef and citrus fruits.

The EU decided in April, but suspended them to enable negotiations. The current developments are reminiscent of an earlier trade conflict during Trump's first term, which was also defused during the bidet government. The deadlines for the ongoing negotiations end in July and it is expected that the EU is actively responding to the 100 % increase in tariffs.

The global trade environment

The introduction of the increased tariffs falls into a wider context of global trade and protectionism. Since the 1950s there has been a reduction in tariffs worldwide, and the theory states that prosperity is increasing when trade restrictions are reduced. Nevertheless, Trump's policy shows a trend towards protectionism, which has strengthened since the 2008/2009 financial crisis. Jürgen Matthes from the Institute of German Economy points out that tariffs serve as a source of income for states and as a protective measure for domestic producers.

The USA was a long leading one in reducing tariffs and promoting free trade. Historically, tariffs protected industries, as many western countries did. However, the scope for customs policy measures has decreased in recent years, also due to the strict guidelines of the World Trade Organization (WTO), which do only allow tariffs to threats national security. Nevertheless, the United States is increasingly also using tariffs as a means of pressure in foreign policy.

The further development of tariffs and the reactions of international trading partners could have a lasting impact on the global trade structure. The effects of the new tariffs are therefore still being observed closely, not only on the American consumer market, but also on the close trade relationships between the USA and the EU.

The situation is therefore not only an economic challenge, but also raises questions about the future trade relationships and the protection of national industries. Against this background, the EU's reaction to US politics will be decisive in the coming weeks.