ICYMI: Trump administration imposes 25% of steel and aluminum

On February 11, 2025, the Trump administration issued two presidential declarations to adjust tariffs on steel and aluminum products. As of March 12, 2025, all countries will impose a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum products and impose designated derivatives imported into the United States.

Existing steel agreements with trading partners (including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, EU countries, Japan, Mexico, South Korea and the United Kingdom) and with trading partners (including Argentina, Australia, Canada, Mexico, Mexico, EU, EU, EU, The agreement between the EU, EU, EU, EU, EU, EU, EU, EU, EU, EU, EU, EU, EU, EU, EU, EU, EU, EU, EU, EU, EU, EU, EU, EU, EU, etc.) will be cancelled from March 12. Steel products from Turkey will be subject to 50% tariffs. In addition, all aluminum items or derivative aluminum items smelted or cast in Russia will be subject to 200% tariffs.

After March 12, 2025, derived steel and aluminum items are accepted as the United States Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) and must be regarded as a “privileged foreign status” and will be subject to a 25% tariff. Importers are unable to compensate these responsibilities under the “Responsibility Disadvantage Plan”.

exclude

As of February 11, no new exclusions or exemptions have been issued. If the importer has an existing product specific product for steel or aluminum products, the importer-specific product exclusion will remain in effect until the expiration date or the exclusion is exhausted (by first arrival) until. The current general approval exclusion measures will expire on March 12, 2025 and will not be renewed.

The declaration will establish an exclusion in derivative steel products in another country if they originate from steel items melted and poured in the United States and derivative aluminum products processed in another country if they originate from aluminum items, these items are sourced from Aluminum items in the United States.

Authority and reason

Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 allows the president to determine, based on the U.S. Department of Commerce’s investigation and affirmation, restrictions that certain import threats would undermine U.S. national security. Commerce conducted an investigation and released a report in February 2018 that found that excessive steel and aluminum imports weakened domestic industries, reducing their ability to meet defense and critical infrastructure needs.

In response to the report, the first Trump administration imposed a 10% tax on aluminum and a 25% import tax on steel in March 2018. The announcement noted that despite such action, aluminum is still imported at an unacceptable level. As a result, domestic producers were forced to idle additional production and shut down facilities. The declaration states that this action is necessary to allow our aluminum producers to restart production and incentivize new capacity.

Next step

The announcement directs several departments and agencies to take action to implement the policy:

• Within 90 days, business must establish a process that allows U.S. steel and aluminum producers to require other derivatives to be included under these tariffs.
• Within 10 days, the U.S. International Trade Commission should amend the HTSU to reflect the new policy.
• The Secretary shall take all actions, including Federal Gazettethe product exclusion process must be terminated.
• The CBP is directed to issue regulations or guidelines for implementing the requirements immediately where practicable.
• If the CBP finds evidence of any effort to evade additional duties, the CBP is instructed to notify the business immediately.
• The secretary can issue regulations and guidance to address operational necessities.

In addition, further importers must provide U.S. Customs with steel and aluminum content information on steel articles. CBP will prioritize review of product classifications for imported steel and aluminum items. If a misclassification is detected, the maximum penalty is imposed without considering mitigation factors.

Diaz Trade Act will continue to monitor development projects and will provide additional information.

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