US steel imports

President Donald Trump’s 50% tariffs on steel, aluminum and other metal imports are now in effect. They’re expected to impact everything from the obvious, like vehicle prices, to the not-so-obvious, like your grocery bill. — Image credit: Getty Images

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Summary

American outsourcing

While President Trump says his tariff hike on steel and aluminum is meant to help the U.S. economy, many American manufacturers say they rely on foreign sources of steel and aluminum to make their products.

The cost of tariffs

Many U.S. can manufacturers and companies that rely on them have said the new tariffs may force them to pass down price increases to American consumers.

Not keeping a promise

While one of President Trump’s biggest campaign promises was to lower food costs, experts say this latest move will likely do the opposite.

Full story

President Donald Trump’s 50% tariffs on steel, aluminum and other metal imports are now in effect. They’re expected to impact everything from the obvious, like vehicle prices, to the not-so-obvious, like your grocery bill.

While one of the president’s biggest campaign promises was to lower food costs, this latest move threatens to do the opposite.

Many everyday products rely on steel and aluminum for packaging, including canned goods, soda and beer, pet food and more. Robert Budway, president of the Can Manufacturers Institute, told The Associated Press that domestic tin mill steel producers have dramatically decreased in recent years, making them reliant on imported materials.

“It plays into the hands of China and other foreign canned food producers, which are more than happy to undercut American farmers and food producers,” Budway told the AP. “Doubling the steel tariff will further increase the cost of canned goods at the grocery store.”

Even before this latest hike, many food companies had already warned of the impacts that Trump’s tariffs could have.

The Campbell’s Co., whose soup cans are a staple for millions, has said it may be forced to raise prices. Likewise, Conagra Brands’ CFO stated at a recent Goldman Sachs conference on global staples that there is not enough supply for them to obtain all their materials from the U.S.

How are grocery prices impacting the way Americans shop?

Even with the inflation rate cooling to 2.3%, many Americans continue to struggle to afford the necessities. A recent survey found more people are now turning to short-term “buy now, pay later” (BNPL) options to afford groceries.

According to LendingTree, the company behind that survey, about 25% of Americans now pay for their groceries that way, compared to only 14% in 2024. It also found that 1 in 3 Americans say they use BNPL options as a “bridge” to get them through until their next paycheck.

As more people adopt this method of payment, more are paying late.. Short-term lender Klarna said in May that its consumer credit losses swelled 17% in the first quarter of 2025 compared to last year, hitting $136 million.

LendingTree’s survey found 41% of people paid late in the last year.

Industry experts say the late or missed installments are a sign of faltering financial health among a segment of the U.S. population. America’s total consumer debt has reached a record $18.2 trillion, and the New York Fed found household spending rose 4.5% in April compared to the same time last year.

Where do grocery prices in the US stand right now?

In its latest report, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said grocery prices dipped 0.4% from March to April of this year. That marks the biggest decrease in food costs since September 2020.

Specifically, sky-high egg prices fell sharply, down 12.7%. Still, though, they remain 49% higher than in 2024. In 2025, overall grocery prices are predicted to increase by 2.9%, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Emma Stoltzfus (Video Editor) and Mathew Grisham (Digital Producer) contributed to this report.

Tags: aluminum, Associated Press, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Donald Trump, egg prices, food, groceries, Health, Household debt, Loans, Manufacturing, Money, price, shopping, Spending, Steel, Supply chain, Tariff, Tariffs, U.S. Department of Agriculture

[Craig Nigrelli]

PRESIDENT TRUMP’S NEWEST TARIFFS HAVE OFFICIALLY TAKEN EFFECT – DOUBLING DUTIES ON IMPORTS OF STEEL, ALUMINUM AND OTHER METALS TO A WHOPPING 50 PERCENT.

AND WHILE THE INCREASE IS EXPECTED TO RAISE PRICES ON THINGS LIKE CARS AND CONSTRUCTION… YOU MIGHT NOT BE EXPECTING IT TO IMPACT YOUR GROCERY BILL – BUT EXPERTS SAY IT LIKELY WILL.

THINK ABOUT IT – MANY COMMON GROCERY STORE PRODUCTS RELY ON STEEL AND ALUMINUM FOR PACKAGING: CANNED GOODS, SODA AND BEER, AND PET FOOD – JUST TO NAME A FEW.

AND SOME OF THE BUSINESSES BEHIND THE COUNTRY’S MOST COMMONLY BOUGHT GROCERIES ARE ALREADY SAYING THEY EXPECT TO PASS PRICE INCREASES ON TO CONSUMERS.

AND IT COMES AT A TIME WHEN AMERICANS ARE ALREADY STRUGGLING TO AFFORD THE NECESSITIES.

A RECENT LENDING TREE survey FOUND 1 IN 4 AMERICANS NOW TURN TO SHORT-TERM “BUY NOW, PAY LATER” LOANS TO KEEP THEIR PANTRIES STOCKED.

AND KLARNA – ONE OF THE NATION’S BIGGEST LENDERS BEHIND THESE LOANS – SAYS MORE PEOPLE ARE PAYING ON THEIR INSTALLMENTS LATE, COSTING THE COMPANY 136 MILLION DOLLARS IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 20-25.

LENDING TREE’S research BACKED THAT UP – FINDING 41 PERCENT OF THOSE SURVEYED SAID THEY’VE PAID LATE IN THE LAST YEAR.

MEANWHILE, AMERICA’S TOTAL CONSUMER DEBT HAS REACHED A RECORD 18 POINT 2 **TRILLION** DOLLARS…

AND THE NEW YORK FED FOUND HOUSEHOLD SPENDING ROSE 4 POINT 5 PERCENT IN APRIL COMPARED TO THE SAME TIME LAST YEAR.

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Why this story matters

President Donald Trump's implementation of tariffs on steel and aluminum imports may increase costs for U.S. businesses and consumers, heighten tensions with key trading partners and reshape global supply chains, with broad implications for industries, international relations, and everyday prices.

Economic impact

The tariff increases are expected to raise prices on a wide range of goods for American consumers and businesses, as steel and aluminum are key inputs in many products, with sources like the Can Manufacturers Institute warning that the higher costs "will further increase the cost of canned goods at the grocery store."

Domestic industry protection

According to statements from President Trump and U.S. steel industry advocates like the American Iron and Steel Institute, the tariffs are intended to shield domestic steel and aluminum producers from foreign competition, raise capacity utilization, and ensure national security by countering global oversupply.

Get the big picture

Synthesized coverage insights across 30 media outlets

Context corner

Tariffs on steel and aluminum are being enacted under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, which allows U.S. presidents to restrict imports for national security. Past U.S. administrations have imposed similar measures, sparking international trade disputes.

Do the math

In 2024, the U.S. imported over 26 million metric tons of steel and 5.4 million metric tons of aluminum. Canada accounted for 6.6 million metric tons of steel and over $3.1 billion in aluminum exports to the U.S. Economists estimate the tariffs could add $1,200 in annual costs for U.S. households and boost inflation by around 0.4 percentage points.

Quote bank

"Nobody is going to be able to steal your industry," said President Trump when announcing the tariffs. According to the American Iron and Steel Institute, "Chinese steel exports to the world have more than doubled since 2020, surging to 118 million MT in 2024." Canadian Steel Producers Association President Catherine Cobden called the move a "devastating blow."

Sources

Bias comparison

Media outlets on the left framed the steel and aluminum tariffs primarily as economic burdens, emphasizing harm to consumers and business disruptions through phrases like “doubling tariffs will inflate canned food prices” and “poisoning business plans,” highlighting skepticism toward protectionism.
Not enough coverage from media outlets in the center to provide a bias comparison.
Media outlets on the right adopted a more neutral or cautiously supportive tone, using rhetoric such as “leveling the playing field” and depicting tariffs as necessary defenses against unfair foreign dumping, illustrating a strategic, pragmatic posture.

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Media landscape

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30 total sources

Key points from the Left

The United States has tariffs on steel and aluminum imports have taken effect, affecting prices for various goods, including cars and canned foods.
Economic experts warn that the tariff increase may disrupt the global supply chain, leading to higher costs for businesses and consumers.
The domestic steel industry supports the tariffs, claiming they will help combat competition from foreign manufacturers.
Critics, including the Can Manufacturers Institute, argue that the tariffs will increase grocery prices and negatively impact Canadian workers.

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No coverage from Far Left sources 0 sources
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- Trump's 'huge' 50% tariffs on steel and aluminum go into effect
  MSNBC
See Hide headlines from Lean Left sources 7 sources

Key points from the Center

The United States doubled tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from 25% to 50% effective June 4, 2025, except for the U.K., amid ongoing trade tensions.
President Trump signed an executive order increasing tariffs to counteract foreign countries offloading excess low-priced metals that undercut US steel and aluminum industries.
Mexico and Canada, leading steel exporters to the U.S., alongside the EU, seek exemptions and engage in negotiations while Mexico's Economy Minister criticized the tariffs as unfair and illogical.
Mexican Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard criticized the U.S. tariff hike, arguing that it is illogical for the United States to impose tariffs on a product where it holds a trade surplus.

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