US President Donald Trump’s 50% tariff on steel and aluminum has led to significant price increases for hundreds of goods imported into the United States. The tariffs, which were previously excluded from the 50% levy, now apply to 407 categories of goods containing steel and aluminum.
The move affects US-based importers who had already paid for goods currently in transit, leaving them with a difficult decision: accept higher tariffs or risk losing money by not unloading cargo at US ports. The tariff increase is expected to have a ripple effect on the manufacturing supply chain, raising costs across sectors such as construction, automotive, and electronics.
Analysts predict that businesses will struggle to absorb the high tariff expense, making it unlikely that consumers will see price hikes in response. Instead, the increased tariffs are likely to lead to higher production costs for manufacturers, ultimately affecting the final cost of goods sold.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/08/19/economy/trump-steel-aluminum-tariffs