Steel, Aluminum, and Copper Tariffs Jump to 50% — What Importers Need to Know

Effective April 6, 2026 — the biggest single tariff increase of the year just hit. Section 232 duties on steel, aluminum, and copper articles doubled from 25% to 50%. If you import anything containing significant metal content, your landed costs just changed overnight.

What Changed

President Trump signed a proclamation expanding Section 232 tariffs on metals:

• Steel articles: 50% (up from 25%)
• Aluminum articles: 50% (up from 25%)
• Copper articles: 50% (newly added — copper was previously exempt)
• Derivative products (goods containing these metals): 25%
• Products with 15% or less metal content: Exempt

The critical detail most importers are missing: duties now apply to the full customs value of the imported good, not just the metal content. A $100 machine with $30 of steel in it is taxed on the full $100.

Who's Affected

This isn't just steel mills and aluminum smelters. If you import any of these, your costs just jumped:

• Metal fasteners, bolts, screws (HTS Chapter 73)
• Hand tools, kitchen utensils (HTS Chapter 73, 82)
• Aluminum cans, foil, containers (HTS Chapter 76)
• Copper wire, cables, plumbing fittings (HTS Chapter 74)
• Machinery and equipment with metal housings
• Auto parts with steel or aluminum components
• Furniture with metal frames
• Consumer electronics with metal enclosures

Dollar Impact

For a small importer bringing in $50,000 of steel components per shipment:

• Old cost: $50,000 + 25% duty = $62,500
• New cost: $50,000 + 50% duty = $75,000
• Difference: $12,500 more per shipment

For derivative products (25% rate), a $50,000 shipment of metal-containing goods:

• Old cost: Varied (many were at lower rates)
• New cost: $50,000 + 25% = $62,500

What You Should Do

1. Check your HTS codes immediately. If any fall under Chapters 72 (iron/steel), 73 (articles of iron/steel), 74 (copper), or 76 (aluminum), your rates changed on April 6.

2. Review the 15% threshold. If your products contain less than 15% metal by value, they may qualify for the exemption. Get a detailed bill of materials from your supplier.

3. Reclassification review. Some products may be reclassifiable under HTS codes that fall outside the Section 232 scope. Talk to your customs broker.

4. Accelerate pending orders. If you have orders that haven't shipped yet, goods that arrive after April 6 face the new rates regardless of when the order was placed.

5. Update your pricing. A 25-percentage-point increase on metals needs to be reflected in your selling prices or absorbed from margin. Don't wait.

Source

Presidential Proclamation on Section 232 Tariffs | GEODIS Analysis | CH Robinson Advisory

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