Question 1

What are Section 232 tariffs?

Accepted Answer

Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 lets the US President impose tariffs or quotas on imports the Department of Commerce determines threaten national security. The current Section 232 tariffs apply to steel mill products (Chapter 72), select steel derivatives (Chapter 73), aluminum (Chapter 76), passenger vehicles (8703), and a defined list of auto parts (8407–8716). Rates are 25% on top of the normal MFN duty.

Question 2

What is the Section 232 tariff rate in 2025/2026?

Accepted Answer

As of 2025, Section 232 tariffs are 25% on steel, 25% on aluminum (raised from 10%), 25% on imported passenger vehicles (effective April 3, 2025), and 25% on covered auto parts (effective May 3, 2025). The 2025 expansion also removed the prior country exemptions and TRQs for steel and aluminum, so most countries no longer have an exemption.

Question 3

Does Section 232 stack with Section 301 and MFN duty?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Section 232 tariffs stack on top of the MFN (Most Favoured Nation) duty rate, and on top of Section 301 China tariffs where both apply. For example, a Chinese-origin steel product could face: MFN duty + Section 301 List 3 (25%) + Section 232 (25%). Anti-dumping and countervailing duties may stack on top of all of those. Check each program separately and add the rates.

Question 4

Which countries are exempt from Section 232 steel and aluminum tariffs?

Accepted Answer

Following the 2025 expansion, prior country exemptions and tariff-rate quotas (Australia, EU, UK, Japan, Mexico, Canada melt-and-pour) were largely removed. Specific exemptions can change between proclamations and CBP CSMS messages — always verify current country scope against the BIS Section 232 portal and the most recent CBP CSMS message for your HTS code before relying on an exemption.

Question 5

How do I file a Section 232 product exclusion request?

Accepted Answer

Product-specific exclusions are filed with the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) via the 232 Exclusions Portal. Importers can request an exclusion if the article is not produced in the United States in sufficient quantity or quality. Each exclusion is tied to a specific HTS code, importer, and supplier; granted exclusions are time-limited and must be renewed. The process is separate from Section 301 exclusions, which run through USTR.

Program	Rate	Scope	Effective
Steel	+25%	HTS Ch. 72 mill products	Mar 2018
Aluminum	+25%	HTS Ch. 76 (raised from 10% in 2025)	Mar 2018 / 2025
Autos	+25%	HTS 8703 passenger vehicles	Apr 3, 2025
Auto parts	+25%	Select 8407–8716 auto parts	May 3, 2025

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Section 232 Programs Overview