Trump to announce 25% tariffs on imported steel, aluminum in latest trade escalation

U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday (February 9) that he will announce on Monday that he will impose 25% tariffs on all U.S. imports of steel and aluminum on top of existing rates. This is another major escalation in Trump’s trade policy overhaul.

Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that he would also announce reciprocal tariffs on Tuesday or Wednesday, effective immediately.

Trump imposed a 25% tariff on imported steel and a 10% tariff on aluminum during his first term, but he later gave some trading partners, including Canada, Mexico and Brazil, duty-free quotas.

Former President Joe Biden expanded those quotas to the United Kingdom, Japan and the European Union, and U.S. steel mill capacity utilization has declined in recent years.

White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said the new tariffs are on top of existing tariffs on steel and aluminum.

Trump announced Friday that he would implement reciprocal tariffs on many countries this week, raising the current U.S. tariffs to the same rates as trading partners. He did not identify the countries, but said the tariffs would be imposed “so that we are treated equally with other countries.”