U.S.: Expanded Steel and Aluminum Tariff Measures Officially Take Effect on the 18th

On the 18th local time, the U.S. measures to expand the scope of steel and aluminum tariffs officially took effect. Previously, the Trump administration announced an expansion of the 50% tariff on steel and aluminum imports, adding hundreds of derivative products to the tariff list.

It is reported that the main sources of U.S. imports of these products include Canada, Mexico, Brazil, and others. The expanded tariff list covers 407 steel and aluminum derivative products, which will be subject to additional tariffs due to their steel and aluminum content. The non-steel and aluminum portions of these products will be subject to the tariff rates imposed by U.S. President Trump on goods from specific countries.

Multiple media outlets have stated that this move could impact the already volatile global trade, with U.S. manufacturing facing a double blow of rising production costs and tariff pressures. In June of this year, U.S. President Trump announced an increase in tariffs on imported steel and aluminum and their derivative products from 25% to 50%.

Due to insufficient domestic supply, U.S. manufacturers heavily rely on steel imports from Brazil, particularly semi-finished slabs. Industry processors have pointed out that the U.S. faces a structural supply gap of approximately 5 million tons of slabs, which must be filled through imports. The major U.S. steel producer Cleveland-Cliffs has already shut down three facilities by the end of June. The company reported a loss of $470 million in the second quarter of 2025 and is exploring asset sales to recover losses.