US President Donald Trump announced on Friday that it will impose 50% duties on steel imported to the United States, twice as high as the current.

As cnn.com reports from its facilities Us steel In West Miflin PennsylvaniaTrump said he had a ‘An important announcement’. In front of a crowd of US Steel workers who applauded and celebrated shouting “USA, USA!”, Trump said he would increase duties to protect American steelworkers.

‘We will impose a 25%increase’said Trump. “We will increase from 25% to 50% of the steel duties in the United States of America, which will ensure even more steel industry in the United States. No one is going to bypass this. “

Trump said he was considering imposing a 40%duty, but industry executives told him they wanted a 50%duty.

“With 50% no one will be able to bypass these customs duties”, Trump assured by Step, with a background of workers at the hearing that wore helmets and reflex vests.

President Donald Trump speaks at the US Steel Corporation factory on Friday, May 30, 2025, in West Miflin, Pennsylvania

The White House said via x that the measure will be officially announced ‘Next week’.

On March 12, Trump imposed 25% sweeping duties on all steel and aluminum imports, which were treated with direct retaliation by him Canada and frustration by the American automaker. The European Union also attacked and announced retaliation, which ultimately did not apply.

Trump praised his duties for rescuing American steelmaking, claiming that American steelmaking would have disappeared if he had not acted to impose duties. He said that all Steel would be made abroad and the factories would have been closed.

Although duties may have given the dying American steel industry a very necessary impulse, they could raise prices to an essential ingredient for American constructions and processing – two industries that Trump has stated that he wants to support. Spot prices for domestic steel have increased by the 25% duty announcement in March, as US producers did not have to worry about such great competition from foreign steel.

In 2018, when Trump imposed some duties on steel during his first term, US production increased moderatelybut led to an increase in costs for cars, tools and machinery and reduced the production of these industries by more than $ 3 billion in 2021, according to an analysis of International Trade Committee of 2023. The cost may have prevailed the benefits.

Trump used a law usually referred to as Article 232, which gives the President the power to impose higher duties for national security reasons, to impose increased duties on foreign steel.

Overall, the US imported iron and steel worth $ 31.3 billion last year, according to data on US Department of Commerce. (Governmental data group iron and steel together.) The Canada It was the main source of iron and steel, with US $ 7.6 billion missions.

Steel

‘I care for you’

In addition, the Republican defended the agreement to unite – the acquisition, in essence – of US Steel and Nippon Steel’s Japanese competitor, which he personally approved last week and for which few details have been made known.

“Most importantly, US Steel will continue to be controlled by the US, otherwise I wouldn’t close this deal.”Donald Trump said, according to which Nippon Steel would invest $ 14 billion “in the future” of American steelworks.

The redemption case, which the current president had been opposed for a long time, was found in the heart of the 2024 election campaign, mainly because it concerns, above all, Pennsylvania – state of strategic importance at the electoral level and also a US steel cradle in the US.

At the end of 2023, the two industrial groups had announced a plan to acquire US Steel by Nippon Steel for $ 14.9 billion. But former democratic President Joe Biden prevented her a few weeks before leaving the White House in January, citing security reasons. Donald Trump decided to review her and eventually approved her on condition.

Trump said on Friday that she was convinced that Nippon could eventually save US Steel and her employees.

‘US Steel was sold in foreign hands without any protection for our great steel workers“, Trump said. “And I said there is no way we could let this happen. Take care of you“

With the new duties and the deal with Nippon, Trump said that workers in the US steelworks had a lot to celebrate. He called on several workers on the stage, who criticized the state of America’s steelworks and praised Trump.

‘This is a very important day’said Trump. “This is one of the greatest days of your life.”