Trump Expands Steel, Aluminum Tariffs to 400+ Consumer Items

President Donald Trump has significantly expanded steel and aluminum tariffs to cover over 400 consumer items containing these metals, including motorcycles, tableware, auto parts, chemicals, and furniture components. The new tariffs took effect with little warning and did not exempt goods already in transit, catching U.S. importers and customs brokers off guard and complicating supply chain logistics. This rapid implementation, announced over a weekend and officially posted in the Federal Register shortly after, left importers with almost no time to adjust, causing concerns about increased costs for goods already ordered and potential hesitancy in future imports. Experts note the scope of the tariffs is massive, with new inclusions amounting to six times more than previous expansions, and the move appears aimed at making importing more difficult rather than addressing trade fairness. The lack of clarity on whether these tariffs stack with existing country-specific duties further adds to the confusion faced by trade professionals. Industry insiders describe the latest tariff rollout as a "gotcha" moment, marking one of the most impactful and sudden trade policy shifts of 2025.