Trump doubles steel, aluminum tariffs to 50% in national security move

President Donald Trump doubled tariffs on imported steel and aluminum to 50% on Tuesday, June 3, through a presidential proclamation that cited national security risks and the need to counter foreign oversupply. The White House said the move aims to protect U.S. manufacturers from trade practices it says weaken domestic production and threaten defense readiness.

Trump initially imposed 25% tariffs under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act in 2018, after the Commerce Department found that excessive metal imports posed a threat to national security.

A February 2025 review by the department concluded that the initial tariffs offered only limited relief, prompting the administration to raise the rate.