Dear valued client,
We would like to inform you of important regulatory changes issued by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regarding additional duties on imports of aluminum, steel, and copper products.
On April 2, 2026, a Presidential Proclamation under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act imposed additional duties ranging from 10% to 50% on certain aluminum, steel, and copper articles and their derivatives imported into the United States.
These measures became effective for goods entered for consumption or withdrawn from warehouse as of April 6, 2026 (12:01 a.m. ET).
For full details, please refer to the official CBP bulletin and annex reference.
Key details
Scope of application
- Applies to specified metal articles and derivatives from all countries.
Products containing multiple metals are subject to only one applicable duty rate.
Exclusions
- Products listed in annexes without metal content.
Certain derivatives (outside Chapters 72, 73, 74, and 76) with less than 15% metal content.
Duty rates
- Up to 50% additional duty, depending on HTS classification.
Special provisions apply for:
- United Kingdom-origin goods (reduced rates under conditions).
- Russian Federation-origin goods (including up to 200% duty on aluminum).
- Products with U.S.-sourced metal content (potential exemptions or reduced rates).
HTS reporting requirements
Importers must ensure:
Important clarification on tariff application:
- For tariffs under Annex I-B (25% rate), applicability is based on the weight of the metal content, not its value.
- If the relevant metal represents 15% or more of the total product weight, the 25% tariff applies.If the metal content is below 15%, the tariff does not apply.
Valuation note:
Ongoing reporting requirements:
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Steel: country of melt and pour.
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Aluminum: country of smelt and cast.
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Copper: additional guidance to follow.
Additional considerations
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Duty drawback remains available under qualifying conditions.
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Goods entering Foreign Trade Zones (FTZs) must be admitted under privileged foreign status.
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Chapter 98 provisions may still apply; however, Chapter 99 reductions or exemptions are not permitted.
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Existing agreements (e.g., civil aircraft-related) remain unaffected.
Future changes
What this means for you
Depending on your supply chain and commodity profile, these changes may result in:
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Increased duty exposure and landed costs.
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Potential reclassification or eligibility changes.
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Additional reporting and compliance requirements.
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Need to reassess sourcing strategies and product composition.
Recommended actions
We strongly recommend that importers:
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Review product classifications and applicable HTS codes.
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Assess metal composition and country of origin.
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Ensure compliance with new reporting requirements.
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Evaluate financial impact on current and future shipments.
We are actively monitoring these developments and is available to support your team in assessing impact and ensuring compliance.
If you have any questions or require assistance reviewing your imports, please contact our team or your usual JORI representative.
Best regards,
JORI Logistics
Customs Support Team
customs@jorilogistics.com
