CBP Issues Guidance Following White House Proclamation Increasing Steel and Aluminum Tariffs
On June 3, President Trump signed a proclamation increasing Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, including derivative products, from 25% to 50%. The tariff increase became effective at 12:01 a.m. ET on June 4, applying to goods entered for consumption or withdrawn from warehouses after that time.
The White House also directed U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to issue “authoritative guidance mandating strict compliance” with content declarations for steel and aluminum products. Importers found to have underreported declarations may face significant penalties, including monetary fines, loss of import privileges and potential criminal liability.
CBP issued the following bulletins with detailed implementation instructions:
The guidance includes:
- Updated Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) codes and entry procedures for impacted products
- Foreign Trade Zone treatment
- Declaration requirements for steel and aluminum content
- Clarifications for multiple HTS codes and tariff stacking
Notably, the tariff increase does not currently apply to imports from the United Kingdom, which remain subject to a 25% tariff. However, this exemption may be reevaluated after July 9, 2025, depending on the status of the U.S.-UK Economic Prosperity Deal.
NMMA is reviewing the CBP guidance and will continue to monitor developments related to implementation and compliance. For questions on the issued guidance, contact Clay Crabtree, Senior Director of Public Policy, at [email protected].