US President Donald Trump has officially doubled tariffs on steel and aluminium imports—from 25% to a sharp 50%. These tariffs took effect Wednesday, impacting everything from car frames to cookie tins. It’s the second hike since March.
For everyday people? Expect prices to rise. Whether it’s your car, your kitchen foil, or even canned food—metal is everywhere. And when it costs more to import, it costs more to make.
The White House says the move protects American steel. Trump claims this will secure jobs and “keep foreign competitors out.” But critics—business owners, economists, and even trade allies—say the math doesn’t add up.
Rick Huether, CEO of Independent Can Co. in Maryland, called the situation “chaos.” His firm imports steel from Europe to make popcorn tins. With prices rising and customers spooked, he’s worried they’ll switch to cheaper packaging like plastic or paper.
“At 25%, they can climb over the fence. At 50%, they can’t,” Trump said at a rally. But what if the fence ends up boxing in your own people?
In the UK and EU, frustration is growing. Though the UK dodged the full 50% hit for now, the pressure is on to strike a long-term deal. UK Steel warned that even the 25% tariff has caused cancelled orders and delays. At 50%, exports to the US would likely collapse.
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Meanwhile, US businesses like Illinois-based Drill Rod & Tool Steels are already bleeding. Director Chad Bartusek just saw his expected tariff bill jump from $72,000 to $145,000. He imports Austrian-made steel not available domestically.
“One punch after another,” he said. “Now we’re cutting worker hours. Everyone’s nervous.”
The irony? The US still imports most of its steel—from Canada, Brazil, Mexico, and South Korea. And even Trump’s first wave of tariffs, back in 2018, barely moved the needle. A 2020 study showed those tariffs created just 1,000 steel jobs—while costing 75,000 jobs in manufacturing and construction.
Economist Erica York at the Tax Foundation put it bluntly:
“This is one of the worst kinds of tariffs. It drives up production costs, kills jobs, and doesn’t help much.”
Trump says he’s fighting for American factories. But ask anyone trying to buy, sell, or work with steel—this feels more like a punch than protection.
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