Daniel throat / White House
US President Donald Trump announced today that tariffs on imported steel, imposed in March, will increase from 25% to 50% to protect national production.
“We will increase tariffs on steel in the United States from 25% to 50%, which will give industry even more security in the country,” the president announced in a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania rally, where he celebrated the investment agreement between Japanese Nippon Steel steel and US Steel company.
An official note from the White House on the social network X specified that the measure will come into force “next week“The France-Presse (AFP) agency reported.
The price of steel products Increased about 16% Since the Republican became president, according to the price index in the government producer.
“No one will be able to get aroundThese tariffs, said Donald Trump on the stage, before the workers who wore helmets and work coats with reflective bands.
After the announcement of the new tariffs, participants shouted “USA, USA” in the room.
The announcement of the Republican leader comes just a day after a court of appeal raised the blockade of the International Trade Court (TCE) Much of Trump’s tariff policy on imports from various countries.
This block will not have affected the tariffs on steel, but those announced on April 2, which consists of a 10% global rate about virtually all US business partners.
In addition, it will also have blocked a portion – which was frozen until July for the signing of agreements – which varies from country to country based on deficits and commercial volumes and the White House called “reciprocal tariffs”.
The US has a commercial deficit with the rest of the world for 49 consecutive years.
Since returning to the White House (presidency) in January, Trump has announced tariff measures against the vast majority of US business partners, some of which were temporarily suspended until July 9, due to the negative reaction of markets.
Measures in force include 25% tariffs on steel, aluminum and its derivatives, 25% on imported cars and certain car parts, along with a 10% base rate applicable to all their business partners.
For the European Union (EU), this 10% tariff could increase to 20% after the current US break in July.
Following the imposition of customs rights, the United States has already celebrated commercial agreements with the United Kingdom and China to reduce rates and increase access to these markets.
USA sign agreement with Japan
The US president also praised the merger that he approved last week between the US Steel and his Japanese competitor Nippon Steel, which has been released so far.
“Most importantly, US Steel will continue under the control of the United States, otherwise would not have closed this agreement“Donald Trump stressed, ensuring that Nippon Steel will inject $ 14 billion“ in the future ”of US Steel and describing the agreement as“ blockbuster ”.
The agreement, to which Donald Trump himself opposed for a long time, became central to the 2024 American presidential campaign, since he says above all respect for Pennsylvania, a Electoral Strategic Statewhich is also the cradle of steel industry in the United States.
Japan and the United States also woke up on Friday to organize a new round of commercial talks before the G7 summit, which will be held June 15-17 in Canada.
Ryosi Akazawa, negotiator of Japan on customs rights, told the Japanese press in Washington during the last round of negotiations that the two countries made progress towards a Potential Agreement in Julybut without going into detail.
Akazawa said Tokyo continues to demand that Washington lift all additional customs rights he applied to Japanese imports.
“If this is achieved, we may reach an agreement, but if not, it will be difficult,” said the Japanese chief negotiator.
Trump also maintained a telephone conversation with the Japanese Prime Minister on Thursday, both expressed a desire to advance in commercial negotiations.
The two leaders should hold a bilateral meeting on the margin of the G7 summitgroup of the most industrialized nations in the world, between June 15 and 17 in Canada.
During negotiations, Japan proposed to the US increase soy and corn imports Americans and cooperate in revitalizing the US naval construction industry, in exchange for the survey of all additional tariffs imposed by Trump.
Trump’s fares for Japan rise to 24% for all imports in general. In addition, a 25% increase in specific vehicle and car parts, a key sector for Japan, which represents about 30% of trade with the United States is a 25% increase in car tariffs.
