Trump Announces Steel Tariffs: What We Know

In his most recent tariff action, President Trump has now imposed additional tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports. The new tariffs include countries that weren’t previously subject to duties on steel or aluminum products, including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, the European Union, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom. These additional duties are set to go into effect on March 12, 2025. 

What We Know: 

Steel and Aluminum Already Subject to 232: 

1. Items already subject to Section 232 duties for steel will remain at 25%. 
2. Items currently subject to Section 232 duties for aluminum will have their additional duty amount increase from 10% to 25%, a 15% increase. 
3. All tariff-rate quotas and absolute quotas will be removed, making such items subject to the 25%. 
4. Generally available exclusions (GAEs) will be going away, making such items subject to the 25%. 
5. Specifically granted exclusions will remain in effect until their expiration periods, and no new exclusions will be granted, ultimately making these items subject to the 25%. 
6. Steel or aluminum products that are smelted or cast in the United States won’t be subject to additional duties.  

Steel Derivatives: 

1. 155 HTS codes from chapter 73 at the 6-digit level will be subject to 25% based on their entire value. 
2. 12 HTS codes from chapters 84, 85, and 94 at the 6-digit level will be subject to 25% based on their steel content. 
3. You can find the updated Federal Register notice here. 

Aluminum Derivatives: 

1. 17 HTS codes at the 10-digit level and 2 HTS codes at the 6-digit level from chapter 76 will be subject to 25% based on their entire value. 
2. 102 HTS codes at the 10-digit level and 2 HTS codes at the 6-digit level from chapters 66, 83, 84, 85, 87, 90, 94, 95, and 96 will be subject to the 25% based on their steel content. 
3. You can find the updated Federal Register notice here. 

Although we do not specifically have confirmation, we expect the confirmation of steel and aluminum percentages in derivative articles not in chapters 73 and 76 (respectively) to be proven by providing a mill certificate for the steel and aluminum in said articles. We urge importers to immediately begin conversations with their shippers to begin acquiring/supplying this documentation in preparation for these tariffs beginning in March. 

If you have any further questions or need immediate assistance, please contact your Scarbrough representative directly.