On Friday, President Donald Trump informed steelworkers in Pennsylvania that he would double the tariff on imported steel to 50%. This significant increase aims to protect their industry, but it could also lead to higher prices for steel, which is widely used in making homes, cars, and other products.

Later, on his Truth Social platform, he also announced that aluminum tariffs would be doubled to 50%, and he confirmed that both tariff increases would begin on Wednesday.

Speaking at U.S. Steel’s Mon Valley Works–Irvin Plant near Pittsburgh, Trump mentioned an upcoming deal. This agreement, whose details are not yet public, involves a major investment from Japan's Nippon Steel in the well-known American steel company.

Upon his return to Washington, Trump informed reporters that the final approval of the agreement was still pending his decision.

I need to approve the final agreement with Nippon, but we haven't seen it yet. However, they have made a very significant commitment and are making a large investment, he mentioned.

Although Trump initially stated he would stop the Japanese steelmaker's attempt to buy U.S. Steel, a company based in Pittsburgh, he later changed his mind and announced a deal last week for Nippon to have "partial ownership."

However, it is still not clear if the agreement his administration helped to arrange has been completed, or how the ownership will be set up. Nippon Steel has always stated its plan to completely buy and control U.S. Steel as a fully owned part of their company. They maintain this position even though they have promised to invest more money in U.S. Steel's factories and guaranteed that they would not fire workers or shut down plants, while also trying to get the government's approval for the purchase.

Today, we are celebrating a very important agreement that will make sure this well-known American company stays an American company," Trump said when he started an event at one of U.S. Steel's warehouses. "You are going to stay an American company, you know that, right?"

Regarding the tariffs, Trump stated that increasing taxes on imported steel would "further protect the U.S. steel industry," but such a significant rise could make prices go up even more.

Government data from the Producer Price Index indicates that steel prices have risen by 16% since President Trump's inauguration in mid-January.

According to the U.S. Commerce Department, in March 2025, steel cost $984 per metric ton in the United States, which was much higher than the prices in Europe ($690) or China ($392). Last year, the United States produced about three times more steel than it imported, with Canada, Brazil, Mexico, and South Korea being the main countries from which it imported steel.

Analysts believe that tariffs, which were put in place during Trump's first term, helped make the domestic steel industry stronger. Nippon Steel wanted to use this to its advantage when it offered to buy U.S. Steel.

The United Steelworkers union continued to harbor reservations.

David McCall, the president, stated that the union is very worried about how the merger of U.S. Steel with a foreign company will affect national security, their members, and the communities where they live and work.

Trump emphasized that the agreement would keep the well-known company under American control. This company is considered both a political symbol and a vital issue for the country's supply chains, including industries like car manufacturing and national security.

Since returning to the White House, Trump has been keen to make deals and announce new investments in the U.S. At the same time, he is trying to please the voters, especially blue-collar workers, who elected him because he promised to protect U.S. manufacturing.

Even though Nippon Steel has said they approve of the potential "partnership," neither company has publicly shared the details of a changed agreement with investors.

State and federal lawmakers who have been told about the situation are describing an agreement where Nippon Steel will buy U.S. Steel. This deal includes investing billions in U.S. Steel's facilities in Pennsylvania, Indiana, Alabama, Arkansas, and Minnesota. The company's management and board would mostly be made up of Americans, and the U.S. government would keep important control through a 'golden share' that allows it to stop decisions.

Unionized steelworkers admitted there was some disagreement among them about Nippon Steel's purchase, but they said their feelings changed over time because they became more certain that U.S. Steel would eventually close its plants in the Pittsburgh area.

Clifford Hammonds, who works as a line feeder at the factory where Trump spoke, suggested that the agreement would at least help to modernize the old facility and increase production.

Hammonds explained that investing money back into the factory is crucial for its repair, as the plant is old and in poor condition, which has reduced its production; a specific investment is needed to fix the current machines and make them fully operational.

Regardless of the exact conditions, this issue is very important to Trump. Last year, he repeatedly said he would stop the deal and prevent foreign companies from owning U.S. Steel, and former President Joe Biden said the same thing.

During his campaign, Trump promised to make American manufacturing strong again if he won a second term. The future of U.S. Steel, which used to be the world's biggest company, could become a political problem for the Republican Party in the midterm elections, especially in Pennsylvania and other important states that rely on industrial production.

Trump stated on Sunday that he would not approve the deal unless U.S. Steel stayed under American control, adding that its headquarters must remain in Pittsburgh.

The president concluded his address on Friday by expressing gratitude to steelworkers.

He stated, "With the help of dedicated people like you, we will make our own metal, create our own energy, protect our future, build our country, and control our own future." He added, "We will once again use Pennsylvania steel to strengthen America in a way that hasn't been done before."

Recently, Trump and other U.S. officials have been promoting Nippon Steel's promise to invest an extra $14 billion in the U.S., in addition to its $14.9 billion offer. This includes building a new electric arc furnace steel mill somewhere in the United States.

On Friday, he was joined on stage by several U.S. Steel workers, including Jason Zugai, who is the vice president of the local United Steelworkers union at the Irvin finishing plant. This local union went against the international union by supporting Nippon Steel's offer to buy U.S. Steel.

Zugai, whose father had lost his job at a steel mill years earlier, tried to convince local officials and members of Congress to support the deal. He believed that if they didn't, U.S. Steel would eventually close its plants in the Pittsburgh area.

Zugai told Trump he was confident Trump would not disappoint them. He also described Nippon Steel's planned $14 billion investment in US steel production as something that would significantly improve people's lives.