Weekend Shake-Up: Trump Administration Abruptly Expands Steel and Aluminum Tariff Scope, U.S. Importers Struggle to Comply

On Friday, the Trump administration unexpectedly announced a significant widening of its 50% steel and aluminum tariffs, adding 407 derivative product categories to the levy list and placing U.S. importers under intense compliance pressure within days of the notice.

According to a Department of Commerce statement cited by CCTV News, the expanded list—which took effect the following Monday—applies the 50% rate to products containing any steel or aluminum components. The newly included items range from wind turbines and their parts to mobile cranes, railway vehicles, furniture, compressors, pumps, motorcycles, children’s swings, and tableware.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection issued its own directive late Friday, informing the logistics sector that these 407 additional goods would now fall under the steel and aluminum tariff regime. Brokers and importers reported receiving virtually no advance warning, and many spent the weekend scrambling to reclassify shipments already in transit. Freight carriers, cargo owners, and intermediary firms all described the breadth of the changes and the rapid implementation as unprecedented.

Shannon Bryant, President of Michigan-based compliance consultancy Trade IQ, remarked that while last-minute regulatory shifts have become more common in 2025, this particular action was especially disruptive, affecting every client she advises. She contrasted the current approach with earlier announcements, which typically included exemptions for goods already en route—an accommodation absent from this round of tariff expansions.

Industry observers note that this move represents a strategic overhaul in how the administration regulates steel and aluminum derivatives rather than a mere extension of existing duties. Brian Baldwin, Vice President of U.S. Customs at Kuehne + Nagel International AG, commented on social media that any product “shiny, metallic, or remotely related to steel or aluminum” could now face the additional tariff, underscoring the measure’s sweeping reach.

Adding to the uncertainty, official guidance offers little clarity on handling shipments already on the water or whether these tariffs will be layered atop existing country-specific duties. Supply-chain experts warn that this complexity and cost burden may only intensify, with tariffs on copper, semiconductors, and pharmaceuticals rumored to be next in line.

Jason Miller, a supply-chain management professor at Michigan State University, called the expansion “counterproductive,” noting ample evidence that duties on intermediate goods such as components often harm domestic manufacturers. Based on 2024 import figures, he estimates the value of items now subject to the steel and aluminum tariffs at roughly USD 328 billion—six times the coverage in 2018 and a substantial increase from the USD 191 billion impacted before this latest adjustment.

Digital freight forwarder Flexport described the compliance burden as “enormous,” explaining that many brands now must secure detailed aluminum-content data, customs value percentages, and country-of-origin information from their suppliers.

Analysts at Xingye Futures report that China’s aluminum exports to the United States fell 22% in the first half of the year due to escalating tariffs, although overall export value still rose by 1.8%. The new list predominantly includes items with relatively low aluminum content—such as refrigerator compressor valve plates, elevator guide rails, and aluminum office furniture—unlike the March round, which targeted unworked aluminum and primary aluminum materials.

U.S. firms like Cleveland-Cliffs have welcomed the broader protection, but Xingye Futures cautions that reshoring aluminum production will remain challenging. In 2023, the United States depended on imports for approximately 40% of its aluminum needs, and domestic plants face higher cash costs driven by labor expenses. While the expanded tariffs may curb imports in the short term, the rigid nature of aluminum supply suggests limited long-term impact on overall availability.