The updated framework introduces revised tariff calculations based on the full value of imported products, marking a significant shift in how duties are applied across a wide range of goods, News.az reports, citing Xinhua.
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Full-value tariffs for primary metals
Under the new rules, products made entirely or almost entirely from steel, aluminium or copper will face a flat 50 percent tariff on their total value.
This includes raw and semi-finished materials such as steel coils and aluminium sheets, with officials saying the approach is designed to close loopholes and ensure more consistent enforcement.
Tiered system for manufactured goods
The proclamation establishes a tiered tariff structure for derivative products:
Goods substantially made from these metals will face a 25 percent tariff on their full value
Metal-intensive industrial and electrical grid equipment will be subject to a reduced 15 percent rate through 2027, aimed at supporting domestic industrial expansion
Products manufactured abroad using entirely US-sourced metals will face a lower 10 percent tariff
Items containing 15 percent or less of these metals will be exempt from tariffs
Officials say the revised system simplifies compliance while maintaining protections for domestic producers.
Boost to domestic industry
The administration argues that the tariffs have already strengthened US manufacturing capacity.
In 2025, the United States became the world’s third largest steel producer, with new facilities under construction in states including West Virginia, Arkansas and South Carolina.
More than 4 million tonnes of additional crude steelmaking capacity is expected to come online within the next two years.
In the aluminium sector, companies such as Century Aluminum and Emirates Global Aluminum have announced plans to build a new smelter in Oklahoma, the first in decades.
Copper production is also expanding, with firms including Highland Copper, Ivanhoe Electric, Rio Tinto and Wieland investing in mining, smelting and processing operations across the country.
Continuation of Section 232 strategy
The latest measures build on Trump’s long-standing use of Section 232 tariffs, first introduced during his earlier term to protect domestic industries on national security grounds.
In 2025, the administration moved to tighten the regime by removing exemptions and increasing tariff rates to 50 percent for steel and aluminium, later extending the same rate to copper imports.
Balancing protection and supply chains
Supporters say the policy enhances industrial resilience and reduces reliance on foreign supply chains for critical materials.
However, critics warn that broader tariffs could increase costs for manufacturers and consumers, particularly in sectors reliant on imported inputs.
The revised tariff structure reflects an effort to balance protection of key industries with the practical realities of global supply chains, as the US continues to recalibrate its trade policy amid shifting geopolitical and economic conditions.
