White House Announces New Metals Tariff Policy

Varying tariff rates on some steel, aluminum, and copper imports aim to boost domestic production.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 6:58am

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The White House has issued a new proclamation that places varying tariff rates ranging from 10% to 50% on certain imported steel, aluminum, and copper articles, as well as some derivative products. The goal is to increase domestic capacity utilization for aluminum and steel production, which has risen in recent years but still falls short of the administration's 80% target.

Why it matters

The new tariff policy is intended to further support the revitalization of the American steel industry, which has seen increased production under the existing tariff regime. However, the move has drawn mixed reactions, with some downstream manufacturers and construction firms concerned about the impact on costs and supply chains.

The details

The proclamation sets tariff rates of 10%, 15%, 25%, and 50% on different categories of imported steel, aluminum, and copper articles, as well as certain derivative products. A temporary lower 25% rate is established for some derivative articles from the United Kingdom. The administration cites increased domestic capacity utilization for aluminum (from 39% in 2017 to 50.4% currently) and steel (from 72.3% in 2017 to 77.2% currently), though these figures still fall short of the 80% target.

  • The White House proclamation was issued in early April 2026.

The players

Donald J. Trump

The President of the United States who issued the proclamation on metals tariffs.

Philip K. Bell

The president and CEO of the Steel Manufacturers Association, who expressed support for the updated tariff policy.

Recycled Materials Association (ReMA)

A Washington-based industry group that assessed the impact of the tariffs, indicating they will remain on the calculated metals content of imported material handling equipment and on metallic shredder wear parts.

Associated General Contractors of America (AGC)

A Virginia-based construction industry group that has cited steel and aluminum tariffs as contributing to higher project costs in the U.S.

Aluminum Association

A Virginia-based industry group that has questioned aspects of the tariffs and warned of increased costs due to shipping chaos in the Middle East.

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What they’re saying

“By right-sizing the derivatives list and updating the valuation of steel-containing goods, these measures reinforce President Trump's signature trade achievement, ensuring the tariffs remain precisely targeted to support the revitalization of the American steel industry without undermining broader economic goals.”

— Philip K. Bell, President and CEO, Steel Manufacturers Association

“A strong Section 232 framework is essential to our national and economic security. Previously, the valuation method based solely on steel content was exploited by bad-faith importers, who used loopholes to underreport value and avoid paying the full cost of tariffs. Updating the methodology to reflect the full value of steel-containing products is a critical fix. It will help restore fairness, encourage domestic production and ensure imports are properly valued.”

— Philip K. Bell, President and CEO, Steel Manufacturers Association

What’s next

The new tariff policy will go into effect immediately, and the administration will continue to monitor its impact on domestic steel, aluminum, and copper production, as well as downstream industries.

The takeaway

The updated metals tariff policy is a continuation of the administration's efforts to support the revitalization of the American steel industry, though it remains a contentious issue with mixed reactions from different economic sectors.