New 50% Metal Tariff Rules Take Effect: Steel, Aluminum, Copper Derivatives Face Full-Value Duties

Trump's revised metal tariff proclamation from April 2 took full effect on April 6–7: goods made almost entirely of aluminum, steel, or copper now face a 50% tariff on their full value; derivative articles substantially made of these metals face a 25% tariff. The new rules replaced the tiered tariff structure that had been partially invalidated by the Supreme Court's February 2026 IEEPA ruling. By restructuring metal tariffs through Section 232 authority rather than IEEPA, the administration sought to insulate the new duties from judicial challenge. US manufacturers, particularly in the automotive, aerospace, and appliance sectors, warned the 50% raw material tariff would be passed on to consumers and could accelerate production shifts overseas. The metal tariff changes came simultaneously with China's 34% retaliatory tariff taking effect April 10 — raising fears of a full-scale trade decoupling between the world's two largest economies. The Peterson Institute for International Economics estimated the combined tariff burden on US households would rise to approximately $2,000/year by mid-2026.