The Trump administration is considering adjustments to its steel and aluminium tariffs, while maintaining that the underlying metals tariffs would remain. The move follows concerns from companies over compliance burdens and requests for relief from trade partners.
On February 17, 2026, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the administration could make changes to how the tariffs are applied, without altering the headline rates.
“You may want to sometimes adjust the way some of the tariffs are applied for compliance purposes,” Greer said Tuesday on CNBC. “We’ve heard stories of companies that have had to hire extra people for compliance. We’re not trying to have people do so much bean counting, they’re not running their company correctly.”
Greer said the underlying metals tariffs would remain, calling them ‘very successful’…”They’re going to stay in place,” he added.
The tariffs were first imposed in 2018 under Section 232, with 25% duties on steel and 10% on aluminium, citing national security concerns. In mid-2025, the rates were increased to 50% for most countries, while the UK remained at 25%.
Section 232 allows the US president to restrict imports deemed a threat to national security, a justification that has long been contested by trading partners.
The scope was later expanded to include derivative products such as beverage cans, ovens and washing machines. Companies importing these goods have had to calculate the metal content in finished products to determine applicable duties, adding to compliance requirements.
According to a Bloomberg report, companies have said the levies are difficult to calculate, and the European Union has sought to have them scaled back as part of its ongoing trade discussions with the US. The White House has informed companies that adjustments are being considered, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter. However, the timing and details are yet to be finalised.
The tariffs were increased last year in response to concerns over Chinese overcapacity. While the administration maintains that the measures have supported domestic mills, it now appears open to simplifying compliance requirements.
India secured partial relief under the February 2026 US-India interim trade framework. While Section 232 duties of 50% on raw steel and aluminium exports from India remain unchanged, the US reduced certain reciprocal tariffs from 50% to 18% on select Indian metal exports and carved out exemptions for derivative products such as finished goods, aircraft parts and auto components.
