Overview
- The administration is drafting a proclamation to levy a 25% duty on the entire price of finished imports that contain steel or aluminum, according to multiple reports.
- The plan would replace today’s method that charges up to 50% only on the share of a product’s value tied to its metal content, which has been hard to calculate for complex goods.
- Basic metal inputs such as commodity-grade steel and aluminum would stay under the existing schedule, and some items could be reclassified based on how much metal they contain.
- The push follows a Supreme Court ruling earlier this year that struck down several broader tariff actions and cut revenue, which spurred a search for simpler enforcement.
- Economists and policy groups warn the shift could raise import costs for manufacturers and consumers and may boost tariff receipts, while critics argue past tariff hikes have not delivered the promised economic gains.