U.S. eases metals tariffs again to aid domestic industries

The United States has temporarily adjusted tariffs on certain imports of steel, aluminum, and copper products to mitigate their impact on domestic industries that rely on imported metals, according to a proclamation signed by President Trump on June 1 that invokes Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962.

The White House has lowered the required minimum content of U.S. melted-and-poured steel, or smelted-and-cast aluminum or copper, in a product that U.S. Customs deems eligible for a 10% duty rate from 95% to 85%, aiming to encourage foreign companies to use more American metals.

On the other hand, the latest announcement adds aluminum lithographic plates and steel racks to the list of targeted steel and aluminum product imports, making them subject to a 25% ad valorem tariff.

The adjusted tariff measures will take effect on June 8 2026, and will remain in force through December 31 2027, before reverting to the prior Section 232 tariff framework on January 1 2028. According to the White House, these temporary changes are designed to spur near-term investments to rebuild the nation's industrial base.

The new adjustments follow an earlier proclamation on April 2 which modified the existing Section 232 tariff regimes for aluminum, steel, and copper. Effective from April 6, the additional ad valorem duties on these metal products shifted from applying only to the value of the metal content to applying to the full Customs value of imported products, regardless of metal content.

The Section 232 tariff program dates from March 2018 when President Trump – in his first term – imposed a 25% tariff on steel imports and 10% on aluminum imports. After returning to office early last year, Trump adjusted Biden-era policies and introduced a 50% tariff on copper imports, effective August 1 2025.

Written by Tiffany Hou, houtianhui@mysteel.com

Edited by Russ McCulloch, russ.mcculloch@mysteel.com