Washington, D.C. – The Coalition for a Prosperous America (CPA) celebrates the U.S. Department of Commerce’s completion of the first tariff ‘inclusion’ round, which was announced today for the Section 232 tariff actions on steel and aluminum products. The original Section 232 steel and aluminum actions focused on primary products, but with the inclusion rounds, small and mid-size downstream fabricators are given the opportunity to petition for inclusion in the tariff action.
In particular, CPA congratulates its member companies Sherrill Manufacturing and Goldens Foundry for their successful inclusion requests covering flatware and dumbbells & kettlebells, respectively. CPA was also successful in its own inclusion request to correct missing product coverage for certain steel products—specifically steel angles, T-sections, and structural framing profiles. The Commerce Department approved these requests on August 1, 2025, recognizing that these products are essential to U.S. manufacturing and supporting steel production.
“Today’s action is a win for American manufacturers, workers, and for national security,” said Jon Toomey, President of CPA. “The inclusion of these steel products in the Section 232 tariff program will mean more jobs, more Made-in-the-USA, and help provide steady-order volume to our primary steel producers.”
Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 authorizes the President to adjust imports that threaten to impair national security. By adding these new tariff codes, the Commerce Department ensures that U.S. producers of steel, aluminum, and related products are protected from unfair trade practices and foreign overcapacity. The inclusion process is a return to a great American tradition—one of direct dialogue between American producers and policymakers regarding tariff protection. It also heralds the beginning of the end of our domestic producers being forced to litigate using Geneva-approved trade remedies.
“Flatware is more than a consumer item—it’s part of a broader manufacturing ecosystem that we should not cede to foreign producers,” said Zach Mottl, Chairman of CPA. “This decision reinforces that every segment of our industrial base matters and deserves a fair chance to compete.”
CPA has long advocated for a robust and transparent inclusion process under Section 232 to ensure that critical products are not left exposed to predatory trade practices. The organization will continue to work closely with the Commerce Department to identify and address remaining gaps in coverage.
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