(CNN) -- US tariffs on steel and aluminum doubled to 50% as of 12:01 am ET on Wednesday, a move cheered by the beleaguered American steel industry but worrisome to sectors that heavily use the metals, from car makers to can manufacturers.

The Latest Salvo in Trump's Trade War

The jump in import taxes is the latest salvo in President Donald Trump's trade war, part of a broad range of tariffs he's levied since February. But the steel tariffs are especially significant to him and his political base, a symbol of once-iconic US manufacturing that has since fallen on hard times.

Economic Consequences

The leap in tariffs likely won't hit American pocketbooks immediately - but experts say that higher prices on construction projects, car lots, appliances and elsewhere are all but inevitable from the higher duties. And while the tariffs could protect steel manufacturing jobs, they could hurt employment in much larger industries.

National Security Justification

But the administration said the tariffs are crucial to national security and the economy.

White House Statement

"Domestic steel and aluminum production is imperative for our defense-industrial base," White House spokesman Kush Desai said in a statement to CNN. "The Trump administration is committed to reshoring manufacturing that's critical for our national and economic security while unleashing a full suite of supply-side reforms - including rapid deregulation, tax cuts, and unleashing American energy - to continue delivering economic relief for the American people."

Industry Reactions

The American Iron and Steel Institute, an industry trade group, said that protecting the steel industry is crucial.

CEO's Take on Car Prices

"We still consume more steel than we produce in America," said Lourenco Goncalves, CEO of Cleveland Cliffs, one of the major US steelmakers, and the chairman of AISI.

He said that raising the tariffs to 50% will only increase the cost of building a car by $300, which he characterized as minor in terms of the overall cost of a car.

Consumers Will Not Be Impacted

"The average cost of a car is $48,000, with an added $300, it's $48,300. That's not going to be the decision-making factor for a person to buy or not buy a car," he said at a press conference Tuesday.

Concerns from the Aluminum Industry

But the Aluminum Association, the trade group for that industry, said it worried that the broad universal tariff could hurt it more than it helps as it cuts off the supply of raw aluminum from Canada many finishing mills in the United States depend upon. Those mills account for most of the jobs in the US aluminum industry.

Impact on Related Industries

Industries that use steel and aluminum also expressed concern. Can manufacturers warned that price hikes could even reach grocery store shelves.

Effects on Canned Goods Prices

The Can Manufacturers Institute, a trade group for the industry, said domestic can makers import almost 80% of tin mill steel due to the cut in domestic production of that type of steel. It said the increase in tariffs will "further increase the cost of canned goods," such as food and drinks.

Consumer Price Predictions

But it is not clear when or if that increase of a few cents per can will be passed onto consumers.

Job Security Concerns

Experts also warn there are more jobs at risk at manufacturers that use steel and aluminum than would be protected by the tariffs.

Expert Opinions

"I think that's a really quintessentially damaging policy, there are (at least) 50 times more workers...in industries that use steel, like cars, than there are in the steel industry," Larry Summers, director of the National Economic Council during the Obama administration, told CNN Monday. "And so the net effect of this is going to be to destroy manufacturing jobs. The net effect of this is going to be to push up consumer prices."