Strengthening Actions Taken to Adjust Imports of Aluminum, Steel, and Copper Into the United States

Key Points

• Trump is raising Section 232 tariffs on most imported aluminum and steel articles to 50%, up from the previous 25% rate, effective April 6, 2026. Certain copper articles and derivative products face a 25% rate. The tariffs now apply to the full customs value of imported products, not just the metal content, closing a loophole that let some importers pay less.
• The policy aims to boost domestic metal production toward an 80% capacity utilization target. Currently, aluminum plants are running at about 50.4% and steel at about 77.2%, both up from 2017 levels. The government credits existing tariffs for these gains and sees higher rates as necessary to keep pushing capacity upward.
• The United Kingdom gets preferential treatment with lower tariff rates (25% instead of 50% on core metals, 15% instead of 25% on certain derivatives) for products made entirely with UK-origin metal. Products made entirely with US-origin metal face only a 10% rate. Russian aluminum continues to face a 200% tariff.
• The proclamation creates a new rolling process for the Commerce Secretary and US Trade Representative to jointly add more derivative products to the tariff regime at any time, including metal containers even if filled with non-metal goods. This replaces the previous separate inclusion processes and gives the administration broad ongoing authority to expand the scope of these tariffs.
• Some derivative products currently subject to aluminum and steel tariffs will be removed from the tariff list (Annex II), while others are placed in a transitional category (Annex III) with lower rates through the end of 2027. Starting January 1, 2028, the Annex III products will face the full 25% rate, giving businesses roughly 20 months to adjust their supply chains.