Steel & Aluminum Tariff Increases Confirmed for March 12, 2025

1) Update: Increases to U.S. Steel and Aluminum Tariffs – Effective March 12, 2025 – Published 

GEODIS wants to keep you informed about significant changes to U.S. Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, which will impact global trade operations beginning March 12, 2025.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• All existing country exemptions for Section 232 steel and aluminum tariffs will be eliminated
• Steel and aluminum tariffs will be set at 25% for imports into the U.S.
• No new tariff exclusions will be granted; existing exclusions are valid until expiration or volume completion, whichever occurs first
• New derivative products will be subject to tariffs (list is available under Annex I of the Federal Register)
• Additional documentation requirements for U.S.-processed materials

DETAILED INFORMATION:

Steel Tariff Changes:

• Effective March 12, 2025, existing alternative agreements will be terminated for: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, the EU, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, the U.K., and Ukraine
• The Section 232 steel tariff exclusion process is ending:
  • No new exclusions will be considered or renewed
  • Existing exclusions remain valid until expiration or volume completion, whichever occurs first.
  • All general product exclusions terminate March 12
• New 25% tariff on additional steel derivative products (implementation pending Commerce Department systems readiness) 
• For derivatives outside Chapter 73, tariffs will apply only to aluminum content
• Exemption available for derivatives processed from U.S.-melted and poured steel, with required CBP documentation
• The Federal Register has been published which includes the steel derivative HTS under Annex I
• Documentation will be required to support steel content used in the manufacture of derivative goods 
• CBP to prioritize reviews of the classification of imported steel articles and derivative steel articles, misclassification may result in penalties

Aluminum Tariff Changes:

• Tariff rate increases to 25% on March 12, 2025, for all countries except Russia
• Effective March 12, 2025, exemptions and quota agreements will be terminated for: Argentina, Australia, Canada, Mexico, the EU, and the U.K.
• The Section 232 aluminum tariff exclusion process is ending:
  • No new exclusions will be considered or renewed
  • Existing exclusions remain valid until expiration or volume completion, whichever occurs first
  • All general product exclusions terminate March 12
• New 25% tariff on additional aluminum derivative products (implementation pending Commerce Department systems readiness)
• Derivative articles in Annex I from Russia where any amount to of primary* aluminum is smelted or cast in Russia is subject to 200% duties.
  • *Primary aluminum is defined as new aluminum metal that is produced from alumina (or aluminum oxide) by the electrolytic Hall-Heroult process.
• For derivatives outside Chapter 76, tariffs will apply only to aluminum content
• Exemption available for derivatives made from U.S.-smelted and cast aluminum, with required CBP documentation
• The Federal Register has  been published which includes the aluminum derivative HTS under Annex I
• Documentation will be required to support aluminum content used in the manufacture of derivative goods 
• CBP to prioritize reviews of the classification of imported aluminum articles and derivative aluminum articles, misclassification may result in penalties

Additional Provisions:

• Producers and trade associations may request additions to the derivative products list for both steel and aluminum
• Implementation of certain derivative tariffs pending Commerce Department system updates
• No new exclusions will be granted or renewed for either steel or aluminum

References: Federal Register, Federal Register