The Trump Administration has reaffirmed existing tariffs on imported metals but is reducing some rates for products with differing levels of metal content that will go into effect today.
President Donald Trump imposed Section 232 tariffs on imported steel and aluminum in 2018, and they lasted beyond his first term. Last week, the White House published new stipulations for Trump’s metal tariffs.
The 50% duty on imported materials primarily composed of steel, aluminum or copper remains in place. Subject products with a “substantial” steel, aluminum or copper composition have a 25% trade duty. Imported products fabricated from U.S. domestic steel, aluminum or copper have a reduced 10% tariff. And imported products with a steel, aluminum or copper content below 15% aren’t affected by the tariffs.
Additionally, electrical grid and industrial equipment composed of these metals can face a 15% duty through 2027.
In February 2025, Trump initially imposed a 25% tariff on imported metals, which he swiftly doubled to 50% that June. Section 232 tariffs can be activated by a president if they deem the move necessary for national security.
Metals are a prominent material in solar arrays across market scales. Residential solar racking and rails are typically composed of aluminum, as are solar panel frames. Ground-mounted racking, foundations and solar tracker structures are composed of steel — such has I-beams or roll-formed steel in tracker torque tubes.
During Trump’s first presidency, solar racking manufacturers adapted to imported metal prices, a market with costs that fluctuated day by day but primarily trended upward. Since then, and with the implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act, solar racking and tracker manufacturers have increased their domestic output, relying on U.S. metal suppliers.
