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President Donald Trump on Monday adjusted tariffs on some steel, aluminum, and copper imports, lowering some tariffs on farming equipment and extending the lower rate to other equipment.<\/p>\n
In an executive order, Trump lowered tariffs on agricultural equipment\u2014including combines and harvesters, and heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems\u2014to 15% from 25%.<\/p>\n
He expanded the existing category of industrial equipment that is subject to a 15% tariff to include mobile industrial equipment like bulldozers and forklifts\u2014when they’re imported from countries that have a trade deal with the U.S.<\/p>\n
The order says countries that use at least 85% melted and poured or smelted and cast steel or aluminum by weight could qualify for a lower 10% duty rate, in an effort to encourage companies in other countries to use U.S. metals.<\/p>\n
The changes go into effect Monday. They are temporary and set to expire at the end of 2027.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn my judgment, this temporary modification appropriately accounts for these products\u2019 roles in productive economic activity in the United States,\u201d Trump said in his order.<\/p>\n
Tariffs on copper, steel, and aluminum were imposed during Trump’s first term in 2018 under\u00a0Section 232 of Trade Expansion Act of 1962<\/a>\u2014which allows tariffs on imports that are deemed a threat to national security. He renewed those tariffs in April 2025.<\/p>\n Since then, Trump has been adjusting tariffs on metals and metal products.\u00a0In June 2025<\/a>, he\u00a0hiked nearly all of his tariffs on steel and aluminum<\/a>\u00a0imports to a punishing 50%, from 25%.<\/p>\n In April 2026, he set a flat 50% rate for goods made entirely or almost entirely of aluminum, steel, or copper\u2014such as steel coils or aluminum sheet\u2014while implementing a 25% tariff rate for derivative products made \u201csubstantially\u201d of steel, aluminum, or copper.<\/p>\n Barry Appleton, a law professor and co-director New York Law School\u2019s Center for International Law, said the adjustments appear to be more about the midterm elections than\u00a0true relief for farmers<\/a>.<\/p>\n “Farm bankruptcies are soaring, farm sentiment is declining, and Republican senators are openly warning their party is heading toward midterm losses in key agricultural states,” he said. \u201cThis proclamation is the White House\u2019s response: Throw the farm belt a bone before voters go to the polls.\u201d<\/p>\n