President Donald Trump's announcement that he would double Section 232 tariffs on aluminum, alongside steel, to 50% -- when the vast majority of imported aluminum was duty-free until March 12 -- drew warnings from the largest aluminum trade group.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, on Fox Business News on June 1, described China as "slow rolling" its de-escalation agreement with the U.S., rather than being in violation of the deal, but said that "we are taking certain actions to show them what it feels like on the other side of the equation."
Georgetown University law professor Jennifer Hillman said that while she expects the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit to take months to decide if the tariff actions under emergency powers weren't legal, the court might not stay the vacation of the orders during that time.
President Donald Trump said at a press conference in the Oval Office that the U.S. would no longer have an economically viable country if higher courts uphold the rulings from the Court of International Trade and a U.S. district court that he doesn't have unbounded power to hike tariffs under an emergency statute.
President Donald Trump answered a question about auto tariffs for Tesla CEO Elon Musk, as the two stood in the Oval Office May 30.
Chapter1, a small Nevada-based importer represented by boutique litigation firm Gerstein Harrow, filed a case at the Court of International Trade on May 29 seeking class certification for all importers that have paid tariffs recently invalidated by the trade court. The suit, if successful in challenging the tariffs and establishing class certification, would provide refunds for all companies that have paid tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (Chapter1 v. United States, CIT # 25-00097).
Both on social media and during a press conference, President Donald Trump said China has not fulfilled its promises offered as part of the de-escalation from 145% U.S. tariffs and 125% Chinese tariffs.
President Donald Trump said May 30 he plans to double tariffs on imported steel to 50%. “We’re going to bring it from 25% to 50% -- the tariffs on steel into the United States of America -- which will even further secure the steel industry in the United States," Trump said at a U.S. Steel facility in Pennsylvania. "Nobody’s going to get around that." He didn't say when the new duties will take effect.
CBP is extending a tariff exemption for goods that are in-transit to reflect the May 28 Court of International Trade judgment vacating President Donald Trump's International Emergency Economic Powers Act tariffs on China, Canada and Mexico (see 2505280067). "CBP’s updated guidance is that it is generally not realistic for shipments to qualify for the in-transit exceptions if entry is not made prior to June 16, 2025," it said May 30. CBP previously said the in-transit exemptions would end May 28.
An increase in tariffs on steel will also apply to aluminum, and it will take effect June 4, said Donald Trump in a post on Truth Social. “It is my great honor to raise the Tariffs on steel and aluminum from 25% to 50%, effective Wednesday, June 4th. Our steel and aluminum industries are coming back like never before. This will be yet another BIG jolt of great news for our wonderful steel and aluminum workers. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”