Tariffs on Aluminum Products Set to Increase March 12

Dear Valued Customer,

On February 11, 2025, the White House published the Executive Order (EO) increasing aluminum tariffs under the authority of Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962.  

Effective March 12, 2025, 12:01 a.m. EST, tariff rates for aluminum and aluminum derivative products will increase from 10 percent to 25 percent.

Aluminum articles and derivative articles

• Aluminum articles or derivative articles may be admitted to a foreign trade zone under “privileged foreign status”.
• Any derivative aluminum article that is not in Chapter 76, the additional 25 percent tariff will apply only to the aluminum content of the derivative article.  
• Tariffs on aluminum derivative products will be effective once the Commerce Department provides public notice that adequate systems are in place to fully, efficiently, and expediently process and collect tariff revenue for covered articles.

Exclusions 

• New product exclusion requests or renewals will not be granted as of February 10, 2025.
• All general approved exclusions are expired as of March 12, 2025.
• Granted product exclusions will remain in effect until their expiration date or until excluded product volume is imported, whichever comes first. 

Exceptions

• The 25 percent tariff does not apply to derivative aluminum articles processed in another country from aluminum articles that were smelted and cast in the United States.
• Imports of derivative aluminum articles that are products of Russia and any primary aluminum used to manufacture derivative aluminum articles that is cast or smelt in Russia, are subject to a 200 percent tariff.
• Drawback is not available for the additional aluminum duties.

Within 90 days of publication, a process will be established for including additional derivative aluminum articles within the scope of the order which can be made by a U.S. producer or industry association. This EO prioritizes the enforcement of classification of aluminum goods by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to ensure the proper duty collection.

Importers should be prepared to provide the mill certificates for each shipment at the time of entry to identify the aluminum content used in the manufacture of aluminum and aluminum derivative articles.

The annex for both steel and aluminum tariffs with additional details is expected to be published.  Additional guidance from CBP is expected within 10 days of the notice publication date.

Resources 

Adjusting Imports of Aluminum into The United States – The White House

Thank you for being a Valued Customer.  If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact your C. H. Robinson commercial representative for further information.

Sincerely,

C. H. Robinson