Spike In Steel Tariffs Would Undermine Trump’s Vow To Reduce Grocery Prices

President Donald Trump’s decision to double tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum could impact Americans in an unexpected way: higher grocery prices.

Consumers are bound to get burned by the rising costs.

The announcement of a staggering 50% levy on those imports has sparked fears that cars, washing machines, and homes could see major price increases.

Because these metals are so widely used in packaging, they are likely to drive up the cost of a wide range of consumer goods—from soup to nuts, Matt Sedensky reported for the Associated Press (AP).

“Rising grocery prices would be part of the ripple effects,” said Usha Haley, a trade expert and professor at Wichita State University, who added that the tariffs could increase costs across industries and strain ties with allies—“without aiding a long-term U.S. manufacturing revival.”

Trump’s return to the White House has come with an unprecedented wave of tariffs—levies threatened, imposed, and sometimes withdrawn—creating a dizzying pace that’s hard to track.

He insisted the latest hike was necessary to “even further secure the steel industry in the U.S.” That promise, however, may clash with his pledge to reduce food prices.

Trump has said that rising grocery costs were a major reason voters turned to him.

A simple trip to the supermarket reveals how many products could be affected by the new taxes on steel and aluminum: from beer and soda to dog food, and can after can of beans, fruit, tomato paste, and more.

“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,” said Can Manufacturers Institute President Robert Budway.

“Doubling the steel tariff will further increase the cost of canned goods at the grocery store.” Producers argue that the U.S. cannot meet their supply needs—and Trump has not provided viable alternatives.