On Friday, President Trump told steelworkers in Pennsylvania that he is doubling the tax on imported steel to 50%. This is to help protect their industry. This big increase might make things like cars and houses more expensive.

He later said on his Truth Social account that taxes on imported aluminum would also go up to 50%, and that both tax increases would start on Wednesday.

During a speech at U.S. Steel's Mon Valley Works–Irvin Plant near Pittsburgh, Trump talked about a future agreement where Japan's Nippon Steel plans to put money into the famous American steel company.

When he got back to Washington, Trump told reporters that he still needed to approve the deal.

I need to approve the final agreement with Nippon, but we haven't received it yet. Still, they've made a big commitment, and it's a large investment.

At first, Trump said he would stop the Japanese steel company from buying U.S. Steel. But then he changed his mind and announced an agreement last week for Nippon to own part of the company.

It's still not clear if the agreement his administration helped arrange is complete, or how the ownership will be set up. Nippon Steel has not said they will stop trying to buy and control U.S. Steel completely as a subsidiary. This is despite them offering to invest more money and promising not to fire workers or close factories while asking the government to approve the purchase.

At a U.S. Steel warehouse, Trump announced an important agreement. He said it would make sure the well-known American company stays American. Then he asked, "You will continue to be an American company, won't you?"

Trump said that increasing taxes on imported steel would make the US steel industry safer. However, a large increase in these taxes could make prices go up even more.

Steel prices have gone up by 16% since Trump became president in January, based on government information.

In March 2025, steel in the United States cost $984 per metric ton. This was much higher than the price in Europe ($690) or China ($392), according to the U.S. Commerce Department. Last year, the United States made about three times more steel than it bought from other countries. Canada, Brazil, Mexico, and South Korea were the main countries that supplied imported steel.

Experts believe that tariffs from Trump's first term helped make the American steel industry stronger. Nippon Steel wanted to use this situation to their advantage when they offered to buy U.S. Steel.

The United Steelworkers union was still doubtful.

Union president David McCall said they are very concerned 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 highlighted that the agreement would ensure American control of the well-known company. This company is considered important for political reasons, the country's supply chain, industries like car production, and national security.

Since returning to the White House, Trump has wanted to make deals and announce new investments in the U.S. He is also trying to please the voters who elected him, especially blue-collar workers who supported his promise to protect American manufacturing.

U.S. Steel has not told investors any details about a new deal. Nippon Steel said it approves of the planned "partnership" but also hasn't shared the terms.

State and federal lawmakers who know about the situation say that Nippon will buy U.S. Steel. Nippon will also spend billions of dollars on U.S. Steel's factories in Pennsylvania, Indiana, Alabama, Arkansas, and Minnesota. The company will be run by mostly American leaders and a board, and the U.S. government will have the power to stop important decisions with a "golden share."

Union steelworkers mentioned that their opinions were divided at first regarding Nippon Steel's purchase. However, their views changed over time as they became more certain that U.S. Steel would eventually close its plants in the Pittsburgh area.

Clifford Hammonds, who works at the factory where Trump spoke, said the agreement will at least help make the old factory better and increase how much they produce.

Hammonds explained that the factory needs a lot of money to fix its old buildings and machines. This is stopping them from making as many products as they should. He said it's important to improve the old equipment to make more things.

This issue is very important to Trump. Last year, he often said he would prevent the deal and stop foreign companies from owning U.S. Steel. Former President Joe Biden also said the same thing.

During his campaign, Trump promised to make American manufacturing strong again if he was re-elected. The future of U.S. Steel, a company that was once very big, could cause political problems for the Republican Party in Pennsylvania and other important states that depend on factory jobs, especially in the upcoming elections.

Trump said on Sunday that he would not approve the deal if U.S. Steel was not owned by Americans. He also said that the company would keep its main office in Pittsburgh.

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

He said, "With the help of people like you who love our country, we will make our own metal, get our own energy, and make sure our future is safe. We will build our country and decide our own future." He added, "We will once again use Pennsylvania steel to make America strong, more than ever before."

Recently, Trump and other U.S. officials have been talking about Nippon Steel's new plan to invest an extra $14 billion. This is in addition to their $14.9 billion offer, and it includes building a new steel factory in the U.S. that uses an electric arc furnace.

On Friday, several U.S. Steel workers joined him on stage, including Jason Zugai. Jason is a vice president at the local United Steelworkers union in the Irvin plant. This local union supported Nippon Steel's offer to buy U.S. Steel, even though the international union did not agree.

Zugai's father had lost his job at a steel factory some years before. Because of this, Zugai tried to convince local politicians and members of Congress to support the agreement. He thought that U.S. Steel would eventually close its factories near Pittsburgh if the agreement didn't happen.

Zugai told Trump that he was sure Trump would not disappoint them. He also said that Nippon Steel's plan to invest $14 billion in US steel production would greatly change people's lives for the better.