US President Donald Trump is thinking about limiting the scope of his tariffs on aluminium and steel goods amid concern among trade officials about their impact on consumers as the midterm elections near, the Financial Times reported, citing three people familiar with the matter.
Trump Considering Limiting Scope of Aluminium, Steel Tariffs as Midterms Loom: FT
13 February 2026 - 15:08 CET
Items such as food and beverage cans have been impacted by the tariffs, hurting grocery shoppers, the officials said. The lists of goods hit by the tariffs may be trimmed and no further targets added, while the administration would pivot toward an approach more based on national security, they said.
Since June 2025, the US administration has imposed 50% tariffs on steel, aluminium, and their derivatives on nearly all trading partners, according to the Congressional Research Service.
House votes on Canada tariffs
The partial rollback, if it goes ahead, follows a Wednesday vote in the House of Representatives to overturn Trump's tariffs on Canadian goods imposed in March. The final tally was 219 to 211, as six Republicans sided with Democrats to back a joint resolution overturning the trade measures.
In a Truth Social post, Trump had threatened that any Republican lawmaker voting against the tariffs would "seriously suffer the consequences come Election time." The measure has yet to be approved by the Senate and is subject to a presidential veto.
Who foots the billAlso on Wednesday, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York published a research note saying almost 90% of the tariff burden fell on US companies and consumers. According to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy in a report last month, foreign exporters absorbed only 4% of the tariff burden in what it described as ''America's own goal.''
