Section 232 Tariffs: Steel & Aluminum
Section 232 imposes 25% tariffs on steel and 10% on aluminum imports to protect US national security interests. Here's what importers need to know.
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Free — Powered by USITCUnderstanding Section 232
Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 allows the President to impose tariffs on imports that threaten national security. In March 2018, tariffs of 25% on steel and 10% on aluminum were imposed on most trading partners.
Current Section 232 Rates
Steel Products
25%
Applies to HTS chapters 72 (Iron & Steel) and 73 (Articles of Iron or Steel), including flat-rolled products, pipes, tubes, bars, rods, wire, and structural steel.
Aluminum Products
10%
Applies to HTS chapter 76 (Aluminum and Articles Thereof), including unwrought aluminum, plates, sheets, foil, tubes, pipes, and structures.
Which Products Are Covered?
Section 232 tariffs cover a wide range of steel and aluminum products. Key HTS chapters include:
- Chapter 72: Iron and steel (flat-rolled, bars, rods, angles, shapes, wire)
- Chapter 73: Articles of iron or steel (tubes, pipes, fasteners, containers, wire products)
- Chapter 76: Aluminum and articles thereof (unwrought, plates, foil, tubes, structures)
- Some items in other chapters containing significant steel or aluminum content
Exclusion Process
The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) administers a product exclusion process. Importers can request exclusions for specific products that are not produced in sufficient quantity or quality in the US. The process involves:
- Filing an exclusion request through the BIS portal
- 30-day public comment period for objections
- BIS review and decision (typically 3-6 months)
- If granted, exclusion is retroactive to the filing date
Stacking with Other Tariffs
Section 232 tariffs apply in addition to regular duty rates and any other special tariffs. For Chinese steel, this means:
- Regular HTS duty rate (e.g., 0-5.8%)
- + Section 232 tariff (25% for steel)
- + Section 301 tariff (25% for China)
- + Any applicable anti-dumping duties
- = Total effective rate can exceed 50-80%
Use our HTS Code Lookup to find your specific product's base rate, then calculate the full cost with the calculator above.
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