President Donald Trump changed the Trump tariff regime on Monday, cutting duties on some steel, aluminium and copper products while adding new items to the 25% tariff list.
The changes take effect June 8, according to Trump’s proclamation. The order lowers tariffs on some agricultural machinery and residential heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment to 15% from 25%.
Meanwhile, the administration also reduced the US metal-content threshold for some products. Goods can now qualify for a 10% tariff rate if they contain at least 85% US-produced steel, aluminium or copper, down from 95%.
Trump said the affected products play an important role in the US economy. He also said the commerce secretary had cited pressure on industries that use agricultural, industrial and machinery equipment.
The order also makes mobile industrial equipment eligible for a 15% tariff. The list includes forklifts and bulldozers from trade-deal countries that qualify for the lower rate.
However, the proclamation widened the tariff net at the same time. It added steel racks and aluminium lithographic plates to the list of products subject to a 25% tariff.
The order modifies Section 232 tariffs, which use national security grounds to restrict imports of steel, aluminium and copper products.
Read: 25 Countries Suspend US Package Deliveries Amid Trump Tariff Concerns
The administration had previously raised metal tariffs and expanded coverage to more derivative goods.
Canadian steel and aluminium producers have faced pressure since 50% tariffs took effect a year ago. Butch Mandel, chief executive of Welded Tube of Canada Corp. in Concord, Ontario, said the duties had pushed his company out of parts of the US market.
Mandel said sales to the United States had improved in recent months. However, he said the recovery had not offset most of the tariff damage.
