U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Thursday a new set of adjustments to tariffs imposed on imports of steel, aluminum, and copper, in a move aimed at balancing the protection of domestic industries with facilitating the import of products that use these metals in limited quantities.
According to a statement issued by the White House and a senior administration official, it was decided to maintain a 50% tariff on core metal imports under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1974. This tariff will be calculated based on the prices paid by importers within the United States, despite ongoing ambiguity regarding the exact mechanism for determining these prices.
In contrast, the revisions include eliminating tariffs previously imposed on derivative products containing less than 15% metal by weight. This effectively exempts a wide range of consumer goods from these duties, particularly everyday products that incorporate metals in minimal amounts.
The measures also include reducing tariffs on certain industrial equipment and components used in electricity networks from 50% to 15% through 2027, as part of a broader U.S. effort to accelerate industrial expansion and support infrastructure projects.
