Fact Check Analysis: Trump’s 50% steel tariffs are coming for your next fridge and dishwasher

Introduction

This article has prompted requests for fact-checking after readers raised concerns about the potential impact of U.S. steel tariffs on American appliance manufacturers. Though the administration argues the tariffs are designed to boost domestic steel production and competitiveness, readers want to understand why U.S. appliance makers are voicing frustration—and whether the tariffs may be doing more harm than help to American industries.

Historical Context

Tariffs on steel have been a cornerstone of Donald Trump’s economic policy both during and after his presidency. In 2018, he first implemented a 25% tariff on imported steel under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act, citing national security interests. While these measures were meant to revitalize the U.S. steel industry, they also triggered retaliatory tariffs and sparked concern across several manufacturing sectors. Some industries, including automotive and home appliances, faced rising costs due to their reliance on steel imports, and economists have continued to debate the net effect of these protectionist policies ever since.

Fact-Checking Specific Claims

Claim #1: A 50% steel tariff will now apply to appliances like refrigerators, dryers, and dishwashers.

This claim is accurate. According to a notice from the Department of Commerce set to be published in June 2025, the increased 50% steel tariff will extend to derivative products containing steel—including consumer appliances. These products include refrigerators, washing machines, dishwashers, and more. The measure is intended to prevent tariff circumvention by taxing finished goods that contain steel components.
This move is consistent with the Trump administration’s historical approach, where it previously enacted similar tariff expansions under the Derivatives Proclamation in 2020. The inclusion of these consumer appliances under the new tariff rules is designed to ensure a broader enforcement of the steel import tariff policies.

Claim #2: American appliance makers are burdened by Trump’s tariffs despite the supposed goal of leveling the playing field.

This claim is supported by industry data and previous public statements from appliance manufacturers. During the Trump administration’s first term, manufacturers such as Whirlpool initially supported tariffs on imported washing machines. However, they voiced serious concerns about subsequent steel tariffs, citing significantly increased production costs.
A 2023 analysis by the U.S. International Trade Commission reported that while U.S. steel production saw a modest boost, downstream sectors—including appliance manufacturers—experienced over $3 billion in output losses due to higher input costs. Similarly, the University of Chicago and Federal Reserve found that U.S. washing machines became approximately $90 more expensive after tariffs were imposed, even though protectionist measures created only around 1,800 jobs in this sector.
Thus, the claim that tariffs raised costs for American appliance companies, even as they aimed to protect their market share, is validated by multiple credible economic studies.

Claim #3: Trump claimed the U.S. steel industry would have disappeared without tariffs.

While the former president has repeatedly asserted that tariffs saved the U.S. steel industry, this claim lacks full context. The U.S. steel industry did experience some temporary gains after the initial tariffs were set in 2018. Capacity utilization increased modestly, but those gains slowed over time, and the industry remains vulnerable to global overcapacity and demand fluctuations.
Reports from the Congressional Research Service and the Peterson Institute for International Economics both concluded that while the steel industry received short-term protection, it did not undergo significant transformation or modernization. Furthermore, many of the downstream industries that rely on steel—such as automobile and machinery manufacturers—faced negative consequences due to increased input costs.
Therefore, the claim that the industry would have “disappeared” is not supported by economic data and is presented without adequate supporting evidence. It reflects a political interpretation rather than a factual one.

Conclusion

The article by CNN accurately reports the expansion of 50% steel tariffs to include a broad range of consumer appliances, beginning June 23, 2025. It correctly highlights frustrations from American manufacturers who face rising costs due to these policies, despite their intended goal of boosting domestic industries. Multiple claims in the article are supported by findings from the U.S. International Trade Commission and academic researchers, particularly the notion that American industries such as appliance manufacturing struggle with higher input prices under the tariffs. There is some room for interpretation around political claims, such as Trump’s assertion that tariffs singlehandedly saved the steel industry, but historical context and economic data do not fully support this dramatic framing. Overall, the article presents a largely factual narrative while subtly critiquing the effectiveness of the tariffs.

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