Section 232 metals tariffs restructured again — agricultural equipment and mobile industrial machinery get temporary relief

On 1 June 2026, President Trump signed a proclamation adjusting Section 232 tariffs on aluminum, steel, and copper, effective 8 June 2026 through 31 December 2027. Agricultural equipment (combines, harvesters) moves from 25 percent to 15 percent. Mobile industrial equipment (bulldozers, forklifts) imported from trade-deal countries is added to the 15 percent tier. A new 10 percent rate applies to capital equipment where at least 85 percent of steel or aluminum by weight is U.S.-origin. The background rate on most articles remains 50 percent; derivatives remain at 25 percent; and a low-metal carve-out (15 percent or less by weight) continues. Legal teams should update contract tariff clauses, customs classification matrices, and landed-cost calculations by 8 June 2026. The temporary nature of the agricultural and industrial relief requires attention to expiry risk in multi-year contracts and supply agreements.