US expands 50% tariffs on steel, aluminum to more derivative products

The US President Donald Trump in his first term imposed Section 232 tariffs of 25 per cent on steel and 10 per cent on aluminum on March 8 2018. These tariffs - along with other trade measures - have been frequently hiked and expanded this year since President Trump began his second term on January 20 2025, Mysteel Global noted.

Also read: Tariffs and trade shifts: how US policy split aluminium markets in China and the UK

On March 12, the Trump administration raised the aluminum tariff from 10 per cent to 25 per cent across all countries and reinstated a uniform 25 per cent tariff on steel imports by removing country exemptions. This also marked the first time in Trump's second term that a set of tariffs were applied globally.

On June 3, President Trump doubled the Section 232 tariffs on imports of steel, aluminum, and their derivative products to the current rate of 50 per cent, effective June 4. Just two weeks later, on June 16, the US extended the 50 per cent tariff to washing machines, refrigerators and other common household appliances containing steel parts, or so-called steel derivative products, with implementation beginning June 23.

On June 13, the US Customs and Border Protection ordered importers of derivative aluminum subject to Section 232 tariffs to report the country of smelt and cast. Effective June 28, those failing to provide the information will face a 200 per cent duty.

Also read: Trump aluminium tariffs shake the industry — how are SMEs surviving the storm?

Note: This news is published under content exchange agreement with Mysteel.