United States Announces Updated Steel & Aluminum Import Tariffs

On February 10th, 2025, US President Trump signed Executive Orders mandating updated 25% import tariffs for steel and aluminum products (including primary and certain derivative products) entering the US effective with an entry date on or after 12:01AM ET March 12th, 2025. Some derivative products will have a later effective date subject to future communication from the Department of Commerce (DOC). Previous steel and aluminum import tariff orders from 2018 have been modified based on these updated orders. 

Derivative products are those manufactured, in whole or in part, from primary steel and aluminum. 

These new orders were issued based on the US position that its domestic steel and aluminum industries were being injured from the level and growth of these imports since 2018. The health of both domestic industries is deemed critical to national security by the US administration. 

Corresponding Federal Register notices were published outlining additional details related to these orders. These are Federal Register Notices 2025-02833 (90 FR 9817) covering steel imports and 2025-02832 (90 FR 9807) covering aluminum imports. 

US importers of steel and aluminum products should review this information carefully.  

Below, you can find the list of highlights resulting from the new orders: 

• Existing country-specific steel and aluminum tariff exclusions, from the 2018 orders, will expire on March 12th, 2025. 

• Existing importer-specific steel and aluminum tariff exclusions, from the 2018 orders, will not be renewed after their expiration dates. 

• There is no process for renewing or requesting new product exclusions under these orders. There will be a future process that will be communicated by the DOC, for parties to request products to be added to the list of products subject to these tariffs. 

• A 25% tariff will apply to aluminum products in Chapter 76 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) effective March 12th, 2025. All other derivative steel and aluminum products in the Federal Register notices Annex I will be subject to a future effective date as communicated by the DOC. 

• Imports of steel and aluminum will be closely monitored by US Customs including HTS misclassification. In such cases, penalties will   amount to the maximum permitted by law. Penalty mitigation will not be allowed in cases of misclassification related to steel imports. 

• A 25% tariff will apply to the declared value of the aluminum and/or steel content for all derivative products identified in Annex I (by HTSUS number) within the Federal Register notices. 

• Duty drawback will not be allowed for these tariffs. 

• Products entered into Foreign Trade Zones (FTZ) must be entered under “Privileged Foreign Status”. 

US importers should note that any increase in tariffs (duties) payable may result in existing customs import bonds becoming insufficient within the calendar year. In such cases, additional import bonds may need to be placed with US customs covering the higher duty rate(s) as applicable. 

Delmar Services & Support  

Our Customs Advisory team is available to assist importers with related questions.  Delmar will continue to provide pertinent updates as they become available.  

 

For additional information and assistance, please contact your local Delmar Representative.