The U.S. Department of Commerce announced in a notice on Thursday that starting from June 23, the Trump administration will impose a 50% import tariff on household appliances containing steel components. The newly added taxable items include common household devices such as washing machines, dishwashers, refrigerators, ovens, dryers, freezers, kitchen garbage disposals, and welded shelving units.
According to media disclosures, the tariffs will be assessed based on the value of steel contained in each product, rather than the price of the entire item. Relevant policies are expected to further drive up the living costs for American households.
A week before the new measures were introduced, the Trump administration had already raised import tariffs on steel and aluminum from 25% to 50%. This round of tariffs continues the previous tax increases on products such as automobiles, aircraft, and energy equipment, which has triggered widespread dissatisfaction from countries like Canada, Mexico, and European nations. It also puts cost-rising pressure on metal-dependent industries such as automobile manufacturing, construction, and oil drilling.
Despite the continuous external tariff pressure, U.S. government data shows that overall inflation remains at a moderate level. According to statistics released on Wednesday, the price increase of household appliances last month was lower than the overall inflation rate. Treasury Secretary Bessent told a Senate hearing that many businesses have not yet passed on tariff costs to consumers, and U.S. inflation has dropped to its lowest level since 2021.
Post time: Jun-13-2025