Input Stories

On March 13, changes to tariffs on steel and aluminum, as well as on certain steel and aluminum derivatives, took full effect. Here’s what you need to know. 

What’s going on: Government websites this week published important information regarding the changes. These include:

• The Federal Register notices for steel and aluminum, which comprise the lists of covered derivative products;
• Guidance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection on steel and aluminum;
• The Commerce Department’s certification that “adequate systems are in place to fully, efficiently and expediently process and collect tariff revenue for covered articles,” including derivative articles on which the tariff is paid on the steel or aluminum content in the article; and
• The CBP’s published information on the new Harmonized Tariff Schedule numbers to use, as documented in its 232 HTS chart. 

The background: The tariffs that went into effect March 13 come from two proclamations issued by President Trump on Feb. 10.

Quota arrangements: All previously agreed upon quota arrangements with Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, the EU, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, the U.K. and Ukraine are now terminated. 

EU retaliates: On March 11, the European Commission announced retaliatory tariffs in response to America’s 232 steel and aluminum tariffs.    

• On April 1, approximately €8 billion in tariffs—adopted in 2018 and 2020 but later suspended—will go into effect on certain U.S. imports to the European Union.
• The EU has also started a process to expand these tariffs by April 13 and has published a proposed list, for public comment, of targeted American products. 

Canada retaliates: On March 12, Canada announced retaliatory tariffs of 25% on $29.8 billion worth of U.S. goods, including $12.6 billion worth of steel products and $3 billion worth of aluminum. These took effect March 13.

• Find the full list of U.S. goods subject to the Canadian retaliatory tariffs here.

Reciprocal tariff input from the NAM: On March 11, the NAM offered ideas to the U.S. Trade Representative for a multipoint approach to “new trade negotiations to strengthen America’s economic might in the world.”