Trump doubles solid definitions to combat manipulation in the external market

president Donald Trump Steel tariffs have now raised to 50 % of 25 %. This increase is very necessary to protect the American steel industry and US national security.

This decision does not come for a moment very early. Since the excessive global steel capacity reaches dangerous new horizons and importing American producers hormones, the original definitions of 25 % under Article 232 are no longer sufficient to protect our industrial base from manipulating the external market, especially by the Chinese exporters associated with the country. A stronger line must be drawn – and move today to draw.

when President Trump Section 232 in 2018 imposed immediately a recovery in the investment in local steel. American steel makers poured more than $ 20 billion to expand and update production through critical production lines-from the amazing hot sheet, corrosive resistance plate to reinforcing iron and wire penis.

These investments were not speculative. It was a national flexibility institution, designed to restore local self -sufficiency and economic security.

Trump’s tariff strategy can succeed, but America still needs a deeper economic reform

By 2024, these investments had resulted. American steel capacity It now exceeds local consumption by more than 19 million tons annually. In the product after the product, America can meet its own needs without relying on one ton of imports. For example, the hot leaf capacity in the United States exceeds 18.1 million tons. Paid paper? Excessive capacity of 13.2 million tons. Armament iron? More than 1.5 million tons.

In short, the American Steel is completely able to stand alone – if it does not undermine foreign trade violations. However, this is exactly what is happening.

The excessive capacity in the global steel – fueled by the Chinese export machine that is uncompromising – increased to 600 million metric tons in 2024 and is expected to exceed 720 million metric tons by 2027. China alone topped approximately 111 million metric tons last year, spoiling international prices.

Trump risks everything, takes the world with definitions and puts America first

this Dumping the huge tray – What is new is one of the biggest deception in the world of manufactured goods – Steel makers were forced into countries such as Korea, Japan, Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates to chase the American market share strongly. There are no strangers to throw themselves, and these foreign producers have informed American clients rudely that they will simply “pricing” the 25 % duties – accommodating the costs that American mills undermine.

The result was the flood of imports through multiple production lines. In the first part of 2025 alone, standard pipe imports from Vietnam increased by 160 % compared to the same period in 2024. The imports of tubular goods in the country of oil jumped by 223 % of Vietnam, 70 % of Korea and 44 % of Taiwan. Armament iron imports of Vietnam doubled. The wire rod from the Korea 67 % increased.

These are not regular market fluctuations. They are coordinated attacks on the solid spine in America.

Get Fox Business on the Go by clicking here

What doubles the problem, some foreign suppliers now use fraud – forging the bill values Reducing introductory exposure. Double the tariff to 50 % makes such charts much less profitable and easier to discover and deter them.

The repercussions are already visible. The use of the American steel industry has decreased to unsustainable levels – decreased from 81.2 % in 2021 to 75.2 % in 2025. In financial terms, the image is more wonderful. The four largest steel makers in the United States witnessed a decrease in the average net income rate from 14.9 % in 2022 to a loss of 1.9 % in the fourth quarter of 2024 (see below). The Statistical Office is now occupying the classification of the steel sector among the worst performance industries in the country.

Without a quick procedure, this path threatens to back away from the progress made under President Trump’s original announcement of Article 232. But with President Trump’s decisive step to raise the definitions to 50 %, America sends a clear message: We will not surrender our industrial essence to foreign manipulation and excessive spoil. We will not allow imported steel, which has been thrown at lower prices or infiltration through fraud, to destroy the feasibility of American mills.

Click here to read more on Fox Business

The risks are not only economic – they are a strategy. Economic security is national and steel security is the basis for national defense, critical infrastructure and advanced manufacturing. Strong steel industry means strong America.

President Trump worked bold, in time and very necessary. It puts American workers and American producers American security Firstly.

Click here to read more from Peter Navarro