New U.S. Tariff Updates: China Exclusions & Metal Tariffs
June 2, 2025
CBP Issues New Aluminum and Steel Import Duty Rules
Importers, take note, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued new reporting requirements for aluminum and steel products under Section 232, and the penalties for missing information are steep.
What’s changing?
Effective June 28, 2025, importers of derivative aluminum products must report the country of smelt and cast. If this information is unknown, they must report “unknown” and include HTS subheading 9903.85.67 or 9903.85.68, depending on the product. This triggers a 200% Section 232 duty, the same rate applied to Russian aluminum.
Bottom line? If your documentation isn’t complete, you could face serious cost increases. Now’s the time to check with your suppliers and ensure you’re collecting verifiable smelt and cast details.
What about steel and other aluminum products?
As of June 4, 2025, Executive Order 14289 has doubled the duty rate on most aluminum and steel products, from 25% to 50%, excluding goods from the United Kingdom (still subject to 25%). For products under Chapters 73 and 76, the new rates must be applied based on the value of the aluminum or steel content. If that value is unknown or equal to the total value, the duty applies to the entire entry.
What to do now:
- Review your documentation practices.
- Coordinate with suppliers to confirm smelt and cast data.
- Reach out to your compliance team or customs broker for support.
For further clarification, don’t hesitate to contact your account representative at Western Overseas Corporation. You can also read the full CSMS messages for more detail: 📄 CSMS #65236645 | 📄 CSMS #65236574
