Trump plans drastic steel tariffs: 50 percent from now on!

Trump plans drastic steel tariffs: 50 percent from now on!

Pennsylvania, USA - President Donald Trump recently announced that it would double the tariffs on the import of steel to the United States from 25 percent to 50 percent. This decision was announced in a speech in front of employees of a steel company in Pennsylvania. Trump argues that the rising tariffs will strengthen the US steel industry and ensure the national security of the United States. The new tariffs are part of a comprehensive announcement that also includes a penalty of 10 percent to almost all imports that already came into force and affects many trading partners, including China and the European Union. The legality of many of these tariffs is checked in various legal proceedings, but the new steel tariffs should remain unaffected by these legal disputes. The effects of the higher tariffs could continue to make the import of steel products into the USA more difficult and demand active negotiations between the affected trading partners, in particular the EU, to achieve trade agreements that enable a reduction in tariffs.

These tariffs came into force on the night of March 12, 2025. Exceptions for certain goods from the EU and other countries were suspended. Trump has justified the tariffs with the claim that excessive imports, especially from countries such as China, threaten the national security of the United States by flooding the market with cheap metal. Around a quarter of the steel used in the USA is imported, and in relation to aluminum it is more than 40 percent, with the main suppliers Canada, Brazil and Mexico.

reactions and effects

The European Union has already reacted to the tariffs with countermeasures. The EU imports about 10 percent of steel and 15 percent of aluminum to the United States, with the United States being the most important sales market for the European steel industry. The EU has threatened to introduce retaliation duties on US products. Experts warn that this is reminiscent of an earlier trade conflict between the EU and the USA. During Joe Biden's term of office, a standstill agreement was concluded that defused the tariffs, but the current developments could endanger this relief.

In addition, further tariffs on steel and aluminum imports are planned from April 2, 2025, which are called mutual tariffs and are intended to help Trump correct the retail weight. After Trump's re -election in November 2024, the European Parliament had already held a debate on the effects of the new tariffs on transatlantic relationships. Various leading EU MPs then called for a continuation of the cooperation, while other critical voices were loud to the tariffs. Maroš Šefčovič from the European Commission was concerned about the harmful effects of tariffs on companies and consumers, while Bernd Lange referred to possible counter -tariffs.

Trump's announcement regarding the tariffs on steel and aluminum is not only an economic topic, but also affects essential political issues. An open, fair and regular -based international trade is considered primarily to avoid the escalation of the trade conflicts.