On April 2, President Trump rolled out a series of updates to the long-running Section 232 tariffs—those federal duties on steel, aluminum, and now copper—and while the changes add some clarity, they’re not exactly bringing relief to America’s craft brewers.

At the center of it all is aluminum, the lifeblood of modern beer packaging.

The revised policy keeps a hefty 50% tariff on key materials like sheet aluminum and finished cans, both essential to breweries already grappling with tight margins. A small concession: aluminum lids now fall under a lower 25% rate. But don’t expect that to move the needle much—higher upstream costs are still expected to trickle down from suppliers.

And it’s not just cans.

The updated tariff list continues to hit aluminum sheet, foil, and containers, meaning the pressure on packaging isn’t going away anytime soon. Kegs, brewing tanks, and other equipment tied to metal inputs are also likely to stay expensive.

If that wasn’t enough, there’s a new wrinkle: uncertainty.

The administration has left the door open to expand the tariff list at any time, potentially sweeping in more beer-related packaging—even filled containers. For brewers, that kind of unpredictability makes planning even harder.

There is, however, a bit of good news—especially for importers.

Beer itself is now exempt from these tariffs, meaning companies bringing in canned beer from overseas won’t be taxed on the aluminum value. There are also incentives for products made entirely with U.S.-sourced metals, which could eventually reshape supply chains.

Still, any long-term benefits tied to boosting domestic metal production are likely years away. For now, the outlook is pretty straightforward: elevated costs for cans and equipment, and a market that could shift quickly depending on how the tariff rules evolve.

Bottom line—It’s not the kind of update craft brewers were hoping for—but at least it suggests the administration is still listening and willing to adjust the rules as feedback rolls in.

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