WASHINGTON — Packaging costs already on the rise under tariffs imposed earlier this year could further balloon this week if President Donald Trump follows through on a promised new 50% levy on steel and aluminum products.

At a May 30 rally in Pittsburgh to announce a pending deal between US Steel and Japan’s Nippon Steel, Trump said he would double tariffs on steel imports beginning June 4. The president later said on social media that plan also would include doubling tariffs on imported aluminum and aluminum products.

In March, the White House imposed an additional 25% tariff on most steel and aluminum imported to the United States, alarming food industry groups that rely heavily on imports of those metals for packaging, from beer and canned beverages to canned soups, fruits, vegetables and pet food.

Food companies, including Congara Brands, have said the new tariffs and rising packaging costs are pushing them to renegotiate with suppliers, re-source supply chains and, ultimately, could force them to raise product prices for US consumers.

“The two areas that were impacted the most are tinplate and aluminum,” said Sean Connolly, president and chief executive officer of Conagra, at the May 13 Goldman Sachs Global Staples Forum. “We can’t get all of our materials from the United States because there’s no supply.”

The pet food industry is no stranger to the use of aluminum packaging either, with the majority of wet pet food being contained in metal cans. According to the Can Manufacturers Institute, the pet food industry utilizes roughly 7 million metal food cans annually, with approximately 25% of these being steel and typically used for dog food, and 75% being aluminum and normally used for cat food.

The industry also expects to see growth in the usage of aluminum containers. According Archive Market Research, the global market for aluminum foil containers for wet pet food is projected to reach $875 million in 2025 and maintain a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 4.1% from 2025 to 2033.

Business groups and officials for top US trading partners were quick to denounce the White House’s new plan for a steel and aluminum tariff increase to 50%.

“Unwinding the efficient, competitive and reliable cross-border supply chains like we have in steel and aluminum comes at a great cost to both countries,” said Candace Laing, president of Canada’s Chamber of Commerce, following Trump’s announcement.

On May 31, the European Commission said it was planning retaliatory steps.

“This decision adds further uncertainty to the global economy and increases costs for consumers and businesses on both sides of the Atlantic,” the commission said. “The European Union is prepared to impose countermeasures, including in response to the latest US tariff increase.”

Read the latest updates on tariff issues impacting the pet food industry.