US Considers Expanding Trump-Era Tariffs to Hundreds More Goods

The United States may broaden tariffs initially imposed under the Trump administration to cover an additional 700 steel-linked products, following requests from American companies across various sectors.

Currently, 407 steel-linked products are already subject to extra tariffs. Companies including Guardian Bikes in Indiana, tomato-canning firm Red Gold, and manufacturers of steel truck wheels have petitioned the US Department of Commerce to add items like bicycles and baking trays to the list established in August. Guardian Bikes argued in a plea to the commerce secretary that the bicycle industry “was lost” with 11 million units imported in 2024, while Red Gold cited tariffs of 25% on tinplate steel from the UK and 50% on steel from other sources impacting their can production.

The August expansion of Trump-era tariffs on steel and aluminum imports included hundreds of derivative products, applying the existing tariff rates to the non-steel and non-aluminum content of goods originating from specific countries. This move comes as global trade continues to face headwinds; recent data shows India’s exports to America have declined for four consecutive months, and China’s exports to the US dropped by 25%. You can find more information about international trade disputes on the World Trade Organization website.

When questioned about whether Americans were bearing the cost of these tariffs, former President Trump stated, “No, I don’t agree. I think that they might be paying something. But when you take the overall impact, the Americans are gaining tremendously.” These tariffs are part of a broader pattern of protectionist measures that aim to bolster domestic manufacturing, but also risk increasing costs for consumers and businesses. Read more about the impact of tariffs here.

Officials have indicated that the Department of Commerce is currently reviewing the requests and a decision is expected in the coming weeks.