The U.S. Commerce Department on Tuesday declared an expansion of its 50% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, adding 407 additional product categories to the list.

The new tariffs, which came into effect on Monday, broaden the range of duties initially introduced by President Donald Trump on steel and aluminum. The updated list now includes items like fire extinguishers, machinery, construction supplies, and specialty chemicals that either contain aluminum or steel or are made from them.

“Today’s action expands the reach of the steel and aluminum tariffs and shuts down avenues for circumvention, supporting the continued revitalization of the American steel and aluminum industries,” said Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security Jeffrey Kessler.

Brian Baldwin, Vice President of Customs at Kuehne + Nagel International AG, remarked that the expanded tariff list includes auto parts, chemicals, plastics, furniture components—essentially anything shiny, metallic, or even loosely connected to steel or aluminum. He emphasized that the move isn’t simply another tariff adjustment but a strategic change in how steel and aluminum-related products are being regulated.

However, the Department of Commerce’s public release makes it challenging for businesses and consumers to determine which new products are affected, since the list uses only technical customs codes instead of familiar product names.

The broadened tariffs affect numerous industries, with projections indicating they apply to around $328 billion in goods. The action aligns with the Trump administration’s continued push to safeguard domestic manufacturing and correct trade disparities.
Meanwhile, a coalition of foreign automakers had appealed to the department to exclude certain components, arguing that the U.S. lacks the sufficient domestic production capacity to meet existing demand.

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