Trump Overhauls Metal Tariffs: 50% on High-Content Steel, Aluminum, and Copper Imports

On April 2nd, President Trump signed a proclamation under Section 232 raising tariffs on goods made almost entirely of steel, aluminum, or copper, including steel coils and aluminum sheets, to 50%, effective April 6th. Derivative articles such as steel cooking appliances now carry a 25% levy, and certain metal-intensive industrial and electrical equipment carries 15% through 2027. Goods with 15% or less metal content are exempt.

For Indiana manufacturers sourcing from non-exempt countries, this is a direct margin hit. If you're spending tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars a month on affected materials, a 50% tariff is not a rounding error, it's a repricing event that requires action on sourcing, contracts, or pricing, not a line item to revisit at the next budget review. Notably, the process that previously handled derivative product inclusions has been removed. Cabinet officials can now expand coverage on a rolling basis, which makes long-term planning harder.