April 3, 2026 - 

Yesterday the Trump administration adjusted the tariffs it had issued on foreign steel, aluminum and copper. According to a fact sheet, the goal was to create jobs, to simplify a system that some U.S. businesses have said is too complex and to address the national-security threat posed by imports.

Articles made entirely or almost entirely of aluminum, steel, or copper will pay a flat 50% on their full value.

Those substantially made of steel, aluminum, or copper will pay a flat 25% on their full value.

Products made abroad but entirely with American steel, aluminum, and copper will be subject to lower tariffs of 10%.

AND

Products made of 15% or less steel, aluminum, or copper will no longer be subject to Section 232 metals tariffs.

In other news, Federal officials yesterday approved a 20-year extension for California’s only nuclear power plant. The utility will also need permission from the state, which has so far only authorized operations through 2030.

And the US has reportedly secured rare earths from Brazil as part of a half a billion dollar deal to provide US companies with access to the minerals they need for tech and defense manufacturing.

As part of a $565million dollar  loan from the US International Development Finance Corporation last year, the US has “offtake controls” giving it rights to rare earths produced by Serra Verde, the company that received the loan. The terms of the loan were not previously known.