President Donald Trump speaks to supporters during a rally at the US Steel-Irvin Works on May 30, 2025 in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania. <\/p>\n
Jeff Swensen | Getty Images<\/p>\n
The European Union<\/a> on Saturday criticized President Donald Trump’s<\/a> move to double tariffs on steel imports<\/a>, warning that it “undermines” efforts to reach a “negotiated solution” in the ongoing trade war.<\/p>\n “We strongly regret the announced increase of U.S. tariffs on steel imports from 25% to 50%,” an EU spokesperson said in a statement to NBC News.<\/p>\n “This decision adds further uncertainty to the global economy and increases costs for consumers and businesses on both sides of the Atlantic,” the spokesperson continued.<\/p>\n Read more CNBC politics coverage<\/p>\n The spokesperson added that the EU is “prepared to impose countermeasures, including in response to the latest U.S. tariff increase.”<\/p>\n Trump on Friday announced that he planned on doubling tariffs<\/a> on steel imports to 50% from 25%, increasing the pressure on manufacturers dependent on industrial metals for production.<\/p>\n The new import duties are set to\u00a0go into effect<\/a>\u00a0June 4.<\/p>\n His announcement, made at a rally at U.S. Steel in Pennsylvania, came after the president signaled earlier this month that he would approve a controversial deal between Nippon Steel<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0U.S. Steel<\/a>.<\/p>\n Trump highlighted an “agreement” between Nippon and U.S. Steel during the Friday rally, but said that the deal was not yet final.<\/p>\n He said that there will be no layoffs and “no outsourcing whatsoever” due to the deal.<\/p>\n