Steel and Aluminum Tariffs 2025

The current administration has issued a new executive order expanding the existing tariffs on imported steel and aluminum. As of now, these go into effect March 12, 2025.

The United States' specialty stainless steel industry has long been supplied by European mills. Our mills currently don't have the capacity or ability to produce the highly processed specialty alloys needed to supply our medical and aerospace industries. This is expected to affect costs within the medical, aerospace, and defense industries.

Key Changes That Affect Specialty Metals:

• Quotas and Exemptions to the existing tariffs are no longer an option.
• Quality, Availability and National Security concerns are no longer considered as valid reasons for exceptions (Proclamation Section 17)
• No new exclusions will be authorized for these tariffs.

How This Might Affect You

• Prices may rise: This has already been seen in the last two weeks, sometimes as much as 30% as mills look to adapt to future market conditions.
• Lead times may be unpredictable: Lead times at American mills capable of producing implant grade stainless steel are already long. They may grow.
• Quotes will be valid for short periods: The material cost you factor into your estimates may not be the cost when you're awarded the job.
• Prices on incoming mill shipments may change drastically at time of shipment.

• What You Can Do

• If you have active customer orders we strongly recommend placing orders now to lock in current prices and avoid future cost increases.
• Consider blanket orders on available stock. That pricing will not change.
• Contact your local and national representatives to push for exemptions for critical materials. Without quotas and exemptions the cost of the tariffs will no longer be spread over large quantities of product.
• Contact our account representatives directly, or through This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with any questions you may have.