The president Donald Trump Signed yesterday (03.06.2025) Executive Decree that will increase in a few hours from 25% to 50% customs duties imposed on imported steel and imported aluminum.
Steel and aluminum are metallurgical areas that are considered to be strategic and Donald Trump of the White House means protecting. The executive decree states that the new additional customs duties are in force today at 00:01 (local time; at 07:01 Greek time).
“I have considered that it is necessary to increase customs duties on steel and aluminum in order to regulate imports (…) to ensure that they do not endanger national security,” he said in the text.
According to the US president, “increased customs duties will be more effective in combating (the practice) of foreign countries to export surrender production at low US market prices to undermine the competitiveness of US steel and aluminum industries.”
“Although the customs duties imposed so far have offered necessary prices on the US market, they have not allowed the industries to grow and acquire sufficient production capabilities that are necessary for their continued health and the prescribed needs of the National Defense,” he also justifies.
The additional 25% duties on imported steel and the imported aluminum decided by the US government was implemented in mid -March. It was one of the first decisions on the issue that Donald Trump made as soon as he returned to the White House in January.
The US president, on the occasion of his visit to Pennsylvania (east) on Friday, announced the doubling of customs duties in these metals, assuring that “our industries (…) will become stronger than ever”.
The European Commission reacted on Saturday, expressing “deep regret” for new customs duties, which “undermine” efforts in progress to “end up with a negotiation” with Washington.
Canada, the largest supplier of these products in the US, filed the World Trade Organization (WTO) on March 13 on March 13th against the first wave of customs duties in steel and Aluminum by Washington.
The Canadian government has argued in the appeal that these measures were “incompatible with US obligations” in international trade, the WTO said.
The US introduced about half the steel and half the aluminum used in the country in 2024.