Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Corva Coleman.
A few hours ago, U.S. tariffs on imported steel and aluminum took effect.
They've doubled from 25 to 50 percent.
President Trump claims he'll protect U.S. jobs.
Critics say it will cost more to buy sodas and new homes.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has sent a letter to U.S. trading partners.
It warns today is the deadline to make their best offers in negotiations over the steep tariffs that President Trump proposed in April.
NPR's Tamara Keith reports the pause on these tariffs will expire next month.
Facing market backlash, President Trump paused the bulk of the tariffs,
saying that would allow time to negotiate bespoke deals with each trading partner.
But well over halfway through the pause, the deals have been slow to come together.
White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt insists that will change soon.
This letter was simply to remind these countries that the deadline is approaching and the president expects good deals and we are on track for that,
I will emphasize.
She said administration officials are in active talks with key trading partners.
The tariff pause is set to end on July 8th.
Tamara Keith, NPR News.
Billionaire Elon Musk has caused a sensation on Capitol Hill.
Writing online,
he sneered at the multi-trillion dollar spending bill narrowly passed by the House last month.