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Section 232 steel, aluminum and copper tariffs

US Section 232 metals duties since April 2026: the 50%, 25% and 15% tiers on full value, the 15% weight test, the 85% US metal rule and partner rates.

Updated · 7 official sources

Since 6 April 2026, US Section 232 duties on steel, aluminum, copper and their derivatives are charged on the full customs value of the product, whatever its metal content: 50% for the basic metal articles, 25% for most derivatives and copper products, and a top-up to a 15% total for listed equipment through 2027. Goods made with US-melted metal pay 10%, UK metal earns lower rates, and Russian aluminum pays 200%.

Rules as of 30 October 2026.

What are the Section 232 metals rates?#

The Section 232 metals rates depend on which of eleven product lists in U.S. note 16(c) to chapter 99 the HTSUS code is on, and on where the metal was melted or smelted. Each list maps to chapter 99 headings, and an article takes only one of them. The table shows the headings in HTSUS 2026 Revision 21.

Lists in note 16(c) Goods Heading and rate
(i) to (v) Aluminum and steel articles, some derivatives and most copper articles 9903.82.02, 50%
(i) to (iv), UK The same goods of the UK with at least 95% UK-smelted aluminum or UK-melted steel 9903.82.04, 25%
(vi) to (viii) Derivative aluminum and steel articles and other copper articles 9903.82.09, 25%
(vi) and (vii), UK The same goods of the UK with 95% UK metal 9903.82.05, 15%
(ii), (iv), (vi) to (viii), (xi) Derivatives and copper with at least 85% US metal 9903.82.06, 10%
(ix) and (x) Derivative agricultural and fixed industrial equipment, until 31 December 2027 9903.82.10, tops up to a 15% total; nothing if the regular rate is 15% or more
(ix) and (x), US metal The same with 85% US metal 9903.82.07, tops up to a 10% total
(ix) and (x), column 2 countries Goods of Belarus, Cuba, North Korea and Russia 9903.82.12, 25%
(xi) Derivative steel mobile industrial equipment, until 31 December 2027 25%; partner countries 9903.82.22, 15% total
(xi), USMCA Canadian and Mexican goods qualifying for USMCA 9903.82.20, 25% of non-US content, at least 15% in total
Aluminum lists Russian aluminum, or aluminum smelted or cast in Russia 9903.85.67 and 9903.85.68, 200%

The partner countries for list (xi) are Argentina, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Japan, South Korea, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Taiwan, the UK and the EU member states (Proclamation 11032). From 1 January 2028, lists (ix) to (xi) move to the 25% tier of lists (vi) to (viii). Parts in chapters 84, 85 and 87 used only to make listed equipment have their own 15% and 10% total headings, 9903.82.23 to 9903.82.26.

Does metal content still matter?#

Metal content no longer sets the value the Section 232 duty is charged on, because since 6 April 2026 the duty applies to the whole customs value. Content still matters in two ways: whether a derivative is covered at all, and whether it earns the 10% rate for US metal or the UK rates.

For a listed article outside chapters 72, 73, 74 and 76, the duty applies only where the applicable metal is at least 15% of the article's weight; below that, heading 9903.82.03 applies and there is no Section 232 metals duty. An article on more than one list counts the combined weight of the listed metals, and pays once even if it contains steel, aluminum and copper. An article with no aluminum, steel or copper at all is declared under heading 9903.82.01.

How does the US metal rule work?#

The US metal rule gives a lower rate to products whose metal was produced in the United States. Since 8 June 2026 a product's metal counts as entirely US when US-smelted and cast aluminum, US-melted and poured steel, or US-smelted and cast copper is at least 85% of the weight of those metals (Proclamation 11032, clause 4).

The test is applied metal by metal: an article on an aluminum list needs 85% US aluminum, one on a steel list 85% US steel, and one on both must meet each test (U.S. note 16(e)). The UK rates use a 95% test instead: at least 95% of the aluminum smelted or most recently cast in the UK, or of the steel melted and poured there (U.S. note 16(d)). Importers declare the countries of melt and pour or smelt and cast on the entry, and since 14 September 2026 ACE rejects entries of insulated copper conductors under 8544.42 and 8544.49.10 that leave out the copper smelt and cast countries (CSMS #69711865).

Which countries pay less?#

Countries pay less under the Section 232 metals duties only where a heading names them. The UK has lower rates for goods made with UK metal, eleven partners including the EU, Japan and South Korea take a 15% total on list (xi), and USMCA goods of Canada and Mexico on list (xi) pay on their non-US content.

Every other origin pays the full tier, and Belarus, Cuba, North Korea and Russia pay 25% on lists (ix) and (x) instead of the top-up. Commerce and USTR can withdraw the list (ix) and (x) top-up from a country whose exports of those goods surge (Proclamation 11021, clause 6). Commerce can also let steel and aluminum producers in Canada and Mexico that supply US vehicle makers bring in limited authorized quantities at 25% (headings 9903.82.18 and .19), and from July 2026 it can grant half the rate on primary aluminum to companies with an approved plan to build US smelting capacity (Proclamation 11045).

What does a steel product pay under Section 232?#

A steel product on a Section 232 list pays its tier's rate on the full customs value on top of the regular duty, and the steel's origin can lower it. Take 100 stainless steel cooking pots, HTSUS 7323.93.00.80, invoiced at $2,000 and shipped by sea: the code is on list (vii), so the 25% tier applies to the whole $2,000.

Origin Regular duty, 2% Section 232 Total duty
India $40 25%, $500 $540
UK, with at least 95% UK-melted steel $40 15%, $300 $340
Any origin, with at least 85% US-melted steel $40 10%, $200 $240

The Indian pots don't pay the 10% Section 301 forced-labor duty on top, because Section 232 goods are exempt from it (heading 9903.05.90); the Section 301 guide covers that duty. The entry is formal because a line over $250 reports a chapter 99 number, so the $34.58 minimum merchandise processing fee applies, plus a $2.50 harbor maintenance fee by sea. The landed cost calculator asks for the metal origins when they change the rate, and border.bot's Section 232 tariffs page lists every code on each list.

Common questions#

Is the Section 232 steel tariff 50% or 25%?#

Both: 50% applies to steel and aluminum articles and some derivatives on lists (i) to (v), and 25% to most derivatives and copper products on lists (vi) to (viii). Listed equipment on lists (ix) to (xi) pays less until the end of 2027.

Does a free trade agreement remove Section 232 duties?#

No. The duty is collected in addition to any preferential rate; only the USMCA content rule for list (xi) and the authorized Canadian and Mexican quantities give relief tied to the agreement.

Is a product with very little steel covered?#

Not if it is classified outside chapters 72, 73, 74 and 76 and its listed metal is under 15% of its weight. It then reports heading 9903.82.03 and pays no Section 232 metals duty.

Sources#