The Trump administration has officially updated import tariff policies for aluminum, steel, and copper, effective June 8, 2026. These revisions modify Section 232 derivative product duties and introduce a proposed Section 301 tariff structure targeting forced labor practices, creating significant shifts for importers of industrial and residential equipment.
Section 232 Tariff Modifications
The executive order adjusts the 15 percent duty regime for derivative products. The updated policy includes agricultural equipment, residential HVAC systems, and specific components under the tariff umbrella. Additionally, the administration has modified the tariff status for mobile industrial equipment, including forklifts and skid steers.
To tighten domestic supply chain requirements, the administration added aluminum lithographic plates and steel racks to the list of affected products. The “melted and poured” threshold determines if a product qualifies as American-made. This threshold was lowered from 95 percent to 85 percent to qualify for a reduced 10 percent tariff. These measures incentivize the use of domestic aluminum, steel, and copper in manufacturing through December 31, 2027.
New Section 301 Forced Labor Investigation
Beyond the Section 232 updates, the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has proposed new Section 301 tariffs following an investigation into forced labor in global supply chains. The proposal categorizes impacted nations based on their existing enforcement of forced labor import bans.
Economies with existing or committed enforcement mechanisms face a proposed 10 percent tariff, while all other identified economies face a 12.5 percent duty. This initiative stems from a March investigation and affects a wide range of international partners, including the EU, Canada, Mexico, and several Southeast Asian manufacturing hubs. A public comment period is open until July 6, with formal hearings scheduled for July 7, 2026.
Market Impact
○ Impacted Metals: Aluminum, Steel, Copper, aluminum lithographic plates, steel racks
○ Direction: Volatile
○ Time Horizon: June 2026 – December 2027
○ Affected Industries: Automotive, Construction, HVAC, Agriculture, Industrial Machinery, Manufacturing
○ Related Price Reports: Aluminum Alloy Weekly Price Report, Steel Weekly Price Report, Copper Weekly Price Report
○ Watch Item: Monitor the USTR public comment portal and upcoming July 7 hearings to see which specific product codes are exempted from the proposed Section 301 forced labor tariffs.
SuperMetalPrice Commentary:
The reduction of the domestic content threshold to 85 percent is a strategic move to ease compliance for manufacturers while maintaining a preference for U.S. metals. However, the broader Section 301 proposal introduces significant uncertainty for global supply chains, as it ties trade policy directly to forced labor enforcement metrics.
Procurement managers should conduct a thorough audit of their Tier 2 and Tier 3 suppliers to determine if their imports fall under the new Section 301 categorization, as these costs could impact landed prices significantly by Q3 2026.
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