White House Announces Reinstatement of Steel Tariffs and Increase Aluminum Tariffs
The White House announced proclamations on steel and aluminum, reinstating tariffs under the authority of Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. Effective March 12, 2025, the steel and aluminum tariff rates will be 25 percent. The proclamations address key reforms, including eliminating all alternative agreements, applying strict “melted and poured” standards, expanding tariffs to include key downstream products, terminating all generally approved exclusions, and enforcing tariff misclassification and duty evasion.
Steel
25 percent tariff will apply to steel and steel derivative products.
Exemptions are no longer available for Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, the European Union, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom.
Any exclusions will not apply.
Aluminum
Tariff rate will increase from 10 percent to 25 percent for aluminum and aluminum derivative products.
Reportedly, for 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 reports that adequate systems are in place to fully, efficiently, and expediently process and collect tariff revenue for covered articles.
Granted product exclusions will remain in effect until their expiration date or until the excluded product volume is imported, whichever comes first.
The “Adjusting Imports of Aluminum into The United States” announcement is pending official publication at www.whitehouse.gov. The annex for steel and aluminum tariffs with additional details is expected to be published.
Andrew Silver, host of The Freight Pod podcast, talks with Jim Berlin, CEO and founder of Logistics Plus. Jim discusses the company he founded in 1996 and has built into a global logistics powerhouse in more than 50 countries, with $600M in revenue, customers like GE and WeWork, and a global HQ in Erie, Pennsylvania’s Union Station. But success didn’t come without taking risks — and learning from failures. “I dive in with both feet without checking the depth of the water.”
In this episode, Jim and Andrew cover:
The journey of how Jim built his company from a small operation managing GE’s transportation into a global logistics powerhouse.
His biggest lessons, best leadership advice, and hiring mentality at Logistics Plus, which has more than 1,200 employees.
The biggest failure of his career — launching a cargo shipping business on the Great Lakes that nearly sank his entire company.
Stories of how simple gestures, out-of-the-box thinking, and creative problem-solving have sustained his career and the growth of Logistics Plus.
About The Freight Pod
The Freight Pod is a deep dive into the journeys of the transportation and logistics industry’s brightest minds and innovators. The show is hosted by Andrew Silver, former founder and CEO of MoLo Solutions, one of the fastest-growing freight brokerages in the industry. His guests will be CEOs, founders, executives, and leaders from some of the most successful freight brokerages, trucking companies, manufacturers, and technology companies that support this great industry. Andrew will interview his guests with a focus on their life and how they got to where they are today, unlocking the key ingredients that helped them develop into the leaders they are now. He will also bring to light the fascinating stories that helped mold and shape his experiences. Learn more and follow The Freight Pod at https://www.buzzsprout.com/2250931.
President Trump on Monday announced 25% tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum to the U.S., reinstating global duties without exceptions for allies such as Canada, Mexico, Japan and South Korea that were relaxed by the Biden administration. “It’s a big deal. This is the beginning of making America rich again,” Trump said in the Oval Office, as he signed dual executive orders for steel and aluminum tariffs. “No exceptions, no nothing,” Trump added. A White House official said the tariffs would take effect March 4.
Trump to announce 25% steel and aluminum tariffs in latest trade escalation
President Donald Trump said on Sunday he will introduce new 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports into the U.S., on top of existing metals duties, in another major escalation of his trade policy overhaul.
Trump suspends tariffs on small packages from China
On February 7, 2025, the White House announced, by Executive Order, the delay of the additional 10 percent tariff on de minimis, low-value goods under $800 from China and Hong Kong until “adequate systems are in place to fully and expediently process and collect tariff revenue” for de minimis shipments.
