On April 2, President Trump issued a proclamation amending tariffs applied to imports of steel, aluminum, copper, and derivative products under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. The modifications are intended to simplify the way the duties are calculated and to eliminate Section 232 tariffs for products containing less than 15% of the metals. However, the adjustments will result in increased tariff liability for certain products given that the tariffs will now be based on the full value of the goods containing these metals.

In determining to make these changes, the President cites increased domestic capacity utilization following his initial actions to levy tariffs on these metals under Section 232. The majority of tariff changes pursuant to the proclamation take effect at 12:01am EST on April 6, 2026.

The proclamation maintains a 50% duty rate on certain goods that are made almost entirely of these metals but clarifies that the tariffs "shall apply to the full customs value of the imported product, regardless of metal content." The products impacted by this change are listed in Annex I-A.

The proclamation also reduces duties on many metal-heavy derivatives from 50% to 25%. However, it also clarifies that the reduced tariff will apply to the full value of the good. This is a change from how the tariff had been previously applied to derivatives — which had been based on the value of the metal contained in the good. The products impacted by this change are listed in Annex I-B. Products for which tariffs are reduced from 50% to 25% for a temporary period of time — through December 31, 2027 — are listed in Annex III.

In addition, the proclamation repeals the ad valorem duties on derivative goods comprised of less than 15% steel, aluminum, or copper. Products removed from the scope of the Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum are listed in Annex II.

A 10% rate will apply to derivatives whose steel, aluminum, and copper were entirely smelted and cast (aluminum, copper) or melted and poured (steel) in the US.

Regarding treatment for trading partners who have reached deals with the United States, the proclamation clarifies that it "does not alter or supersede actions implementing any prior agreements with the United Kingdom, the European Union, Japan, the Republic of Korea, or any other trading partner to reduce the tariffs imposed under section 232 on certain aluminum, steel, or copper articles and certain aluminum, steel, or copper derivative articles that fall under the World Trade Organization Agreement on Trade in Civil Aircraft and either are civil aircraft or are used as parts for civil aircraft."

Finally, the proclamation terminates the inclusions processes that had been previously used to expand the scope of derivative goods subject to Section 232 tariffs on steel, aluminum, and copper. However, the proclamation gives authority to the Commerce Secretary and U.S. Trade Representative to include additional derivative articles within the scope of the tariffs.

The proclamation can be found here.

The annexes can be found here.

The White House fact sheet can be found here.