US President Donald Trump has signed a proclamation modifying tariffs on certain downstream steel- and aluminum-related products under Section 232 measures, aimed at supporting domestic manufacturing and encouraging investment in the US industrial sector.
Under the new measures, tariffs on selected agricultural equipment, including combines and harvesters, have been reduced from 25pct to 15pct. The administration also expanded the list of industrial equipment eligible for a 15pct tariff rate to include mobile industrial machinery such as bulldozers and forklifts imported from countries covered by trade agreements.
The proclamation also introduces incentives for foreign manufacturers using US-produced steel and aluminum. Capital equipment containing at least 85pct US melted-and-poured steel or US smelted-and-cast aluminum by weight will qualify for a lower 10pct tariff rate.
The revised tariff measures will remain in effect until December 31, 2027, and are intended to encourage near-term industrial investment and strengthen domestic production capacity.
According to the White House, the Section 232 tariff program has supported growth in the US steel industry, with the country becoming the world’s third-largest steel producer in 2025. More than 4 mln tons of new crude steelmaking capacity is expected to come online over the next two years, including projects in West Virginia, Arkansas, and South Carolina.
The administration also highlighted ongoing investments in the US aluminum and copper sectors. Earlier this year, Century Aluminum and Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) announced plans to develop a new aluminum smelter in Oklahoma, while companies including Rio Tinto, Ivanhoe Electric, Highland Copper, and Wieland are expanding copper-related operations in the US.