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Trump Cuts US Steel, Aluminum & Copper Tariffs to 15% for Select Goods and Offers 10% Rate for Favoured Partners
President Donald Trump signed a new executive order on June 3, 2026, lowering duties on a range of aluminum and steel‑derived products from 25 % to 15 %. The move benefits agricultural machinery, HVAC systems and other industrial equipment while keeping a 25 % levy on items such as aluminum lithographic plates and steel shelving. The decree also creates a special 10 % tariff for fully‑processed metal goods made in the United States for companies in a list of partner nations, ranging from Japan to the EU. Canadian and Mexican products under the US‑Mexico‑Canada Agreement will continue to face a 25 % charge on the non‑U.S. component of the material.
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President Trump Adjusts Metal Import Duties
On June 3, 2026, President Donald Trump signed a decree that revises the tariff regime for several imported metals, chiefly aluminum, steel and copper, as part of his broader "America First" trade strategy.
Key tariff reductions
The order cuts the duty rate from 25 % to 15 % on a select group of aluminum‑ and steel‑derived items. The affected categories include:
- Agricultural equipment such as seed drills and harvesters
- Heating, ventilation and air‑conditioning (HVAC) systems
- Various other industrial components that rely on rolled aluminum or steel
These sectors are highlighted as strategic to the U.S. economy – agriculture, construction and industrial logistics – and will benefit from the lower import cost.
Products that remain highly taxed
Despite the partial relief, some items retain the 25 % tariff. Notably:
- Aluminum lithographic plates
- Steel shelving and racks
The higher rate is intended to prevent circumvention of the duties imposed in April of the same year.
Special 10 % rate for preferred trading partners
The decree also creates a bespoke tariff line for companies in selected foreign markets. If a product is "fully composed" of aluminum or steel that has been melted and cast in the United States, the duty drops to 10 % for firms located in:
- Argentina, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala
- Japan, Liechtenstein, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan
- United Kingdom and the European Union
Implications for NAFTA‑MEXICO‑USA trade
For Canadian and Mexican goods that enjoy preferential treatment under the United States‑Mexico‑Canada Agreement (USMCA), a 25 % duty will still apply, but only on the portion of the product that is not of U.S. origin.
The mixed approach signals a calibrated effort to protect domestic manufacturers while still offering selective relief to key allied economies.