President Ramps Up Tariffs on Steel, Aluminum, and Copper Imports
Published Date: 4/9/2026
Presidential Document
Summary
The U.S. government is stepping up its game to protect national security by tightening rules on importing aluminum, steel, and copper. New tariffs and import checks will hit companies bringing in these metals if they threaten U.S. safety or industry. These changes start soon and could affect prices and supply chains, so businesses should get ready to adjust.
Analyzed Economic Effects
10 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 7 costs, 1 mixed.
Tariffs now apply to full customs value
Starting April 6, 2026, additional ad valorem duties on aluminum, steel, and copper articles and their derivatives apply to the product's full customs value, regardless of how much metal the product actually contains. If you import products that contain any amount of these metals, the duty will be calculated on the full customs value.
New headline duty rates (50%, 25%, 10%)
Effective April 6, 2026, many aluminum and steel articles and certain derivatives will face a 50% additional ad valorem duty; some copper and certain derivative articles will face a 25% duty. Reduced rates apply in some cases: products with all metal smelted/cast in the United States may get a 10% rate, and certain U.K.-origin products get lower rates (25% or 15% as specified).
200% duty remains for Russia-origin aluminum
Aluminum articles that are the product of Russia, or that use any primary aluminum smelted or cast in Russia, will continue to be subject to a 200% ad valorem duty with respect to goods entered on or after the April 6, 2026 effective dates. If you import aluminum with Russian smelt or cast content, the 200% rate still applies.
Transitional rules for Annex III through 2027
For goods listed in Annex III, between April 6, 2026 and December 31, 2027 the additional section 232 rate will generally be set so the total duty meets a 15% floor (unless the product's Column 1 HTSUS duty is already at least 15%, in which case the additional rate is zero). Special rules also give 10% for certain U.S.-origin derivatives and 25% for products from trading partners without normal trading relations.
CBP enforcement and smelt/cast reporting required
Importers must provide Customs and Border Protection (CBP) with information identifying the countries where copper used in imported copper articles is smelted and where such articles are cast. CBP may adopt rules to determine metal content and to address transshipment, undervaluation, and tariff evasion; these requirements will be implemented as soon as practicable.
Authority to add derivative articles on a rolling basis
The Secretary of Commerce and the U.S. Trade Representative may jointly add additional derivative aluminum, steel, or copper articles to the tariff scope whenever they determine imports of those derivatives threaten national security; any inclusion takes effect on the date they make the finding (or the first practicable effective date) via Federal Register notice.
Foreign-trade zone admission only under privileged status
Products described in the proclamation that are admitted into U.S. foreign-trade zones on or after April 6, 2026 may only be entered under 'privileged foreign status' (19 CFR 146.41). Products already admitted under privileged foreign status before that date will be subject to applicable ad valorem rates upon entry for consumption.
Drawback claims allowed for Trade Agreement Partner products
Manufacturing drawback claims under 19 U.S.C. 1313(a)-(b) are available for duties imposed by this proclamation for articles that meet conditions: they are classifiable in Annex I-B or Annex III (or later included), are not subject to an AD/CVD order, are products of Trade Agreement Partners (listed countries include the U.K., EU, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Canada), and the metal content was smelted and cast entirely in a Trade Agreement Partner country.
USTR/Commerce can revoke partner benefits if imports surge
The Secretary and the U.S. Trade Representative, with Presidential direction or concurrence, may revoke the lower benefits provided to a trading partner under the transitional clause if imports from that partner increase in a way that undermines the proclamation’s objectives; revocation takes effect on the date of the finding (or first practicable date) via Federal Register notice.
Some products removed from section 232 duties (Annex II)
Effective April 6, 2026, products listed in Annex II of the proclamation will no longer be subject to the additional section 232 ad valorem duties for aluminum or steel. If you import goods that are in Annex II, they are excluded from those additional duties as of that date.
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Key Dates
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