U.S. Manufacturers Demand Tariff Exemption from Imported Steel, Aluminum

President Donald Trump’s tariff policies are reshaping US manufacturing, raising costs across industries from automotive to apparel while benefiting some domestic producers.

With Trump signaling further expansion, small businesses are split: some want exemptions, while others welcome protectionism.

More than 400 imported items — including farm equipment, industrial robots, dumbbells, and flatware — are now subject to tariffs tied to their steel and aluminum content, Oliver O’Connell reported for The Independent.

These duties differ from Trump’s contested “reciprocal tariffs,” instead relying on Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, a national security measure with stronger legal footing.

With Trump signaling further expansion, small businesses are split: some want exemptions, while others welcome protectionism.

For Greg Owens, chairman of Sherrill Manufacturing in New York, tariffs are a lifeline. His company, which makes Liberty Tabletop flatware, had long struggled against cheap Chinese imports.

“We couldn’t compete with the Chinese factories,” Owens said. But a new 50% tariff on imported stainless steel flatware could make Sherrill’s products viable for mainstream retailers. “Now we’re optimistic about the future,” he added.