As of August 2025, the US has doubled the tariff from 25 per cent to 50 per cent for both aluminium and steel, but in the same context has exempted import tariffs on refined copper, making a visible contrast between the metals. The exemption has been made with consideration of the key role of the higher electricity costs as well as the dynamics of lobbying pressure contributing to the US policy. Macquarie analysts, Century Aluminum and data from the US Geological Survey (USGS) have all weighed in on the implications of these tariffs for domestic production and global trade.
The expansion of the tariff on aluminium and steel included hundreds of derivative products which contain the metals in question. This move was undertaken to close the circumvention loopholes in the tariff and boost domestic manufacturing. The tariff implication is significant for a variety of goods, including appliances, heavy equipment and automotive parts.
It has been estimated by the industry analysts that the increased tariff will directly impact the overall US tariff rate by at least one percentage point. The current shift in the policy creates a direct lobbying impact, especially by the steelmakers, and undermines the commitment to protecting American industries as enunciated by the US administrations.
As of 2025, the US has significantly reshaped its trade stance on critical industrial metals, imposing a 50 per cent tariff on aluminium and steel imports while simultaneously exempting refined copper from similar duties.