Trump expands 50% steel, aluminum tariffs: 4 things to know
President Donald Trump has expanded the scope of steel and aluminum tariffs, extending the 50% levy to include an additional 407 product categories, according to an Aug. 19 news release from the Commerce Department.
Here are four things to know:
- The expanded tariffs target a range of imports, including auto parts, chemicals, plastics, construction materials, wind turbines and rail cars, CNBC reported Aug. 19. “Basically, if it’s shiny, metallic, or remotely related to steel or aluminum, it’s probably on the list,” Brian Baldwin, vice president of customs at Kuehne and Nagel International AG, wrote on LinkedIn, citing the expansion. “This isn’t just another tariff — it’s a strategic shift in how steel and aluminum derivatives are regulated.”
- The tariffs officially went into effect Aug. 19; however, the product list is available only via 10-digit customs classification codes, making it difficult for individuals to identify which products are affected.
- Jason Miller, PhD, a supply chain management professor at East Lansing-based Michigan State University, said in a LinkedIn post the expanded tariffs could now affect at least $320 billion worth of imports based on 2024 trade values. “This will add more inflationary cost-push pressures to already climbing prices that domestic producers are charging as picked up by July’s PPI data,” he said.
- The move follows President Trump’s announcement in June that he was doubling aluminum and steel tariffs from 25% to 50%. According to the American Hospital Association, tariffs on these imports will affect medical devices including surgical instruments, prosthetics, implants, crutches and wheelchairs, and orthopedic hardware such as plates and screws.
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