Section 232: Steel & Aluminum Duties
The following overview is intended to summarize the most important official information regarding the scope of the steel and aluminum Section 232 duties. It is not exhaustive and does not include some official information including Federal Register notices, Cargo Systems Messaging Service (CSMS) messages, Fact Sheets, FAQs and other relevant information you may need to fully comply with U.S. Customs and Border Protection rules and guidance while importing products subject to tariffs into the United States.
On March 8, 2018, President Trump issued Proclamation 9704, which established a 10% duty on imports of certain aluminum products, and Proclamation 9705, which established a 25% duty on imports of certain steel products. Most of the products subject to duties were raw and semi-finished steel and aluminum products such as flat-rolled steel and aluminum plates sheet and strip, as well as steel and aluminum bars and rods, pipe and tube, and wire.
Links: Proclamation 9704 | Proclamation 9705
On January 24, 2020, President Trump issued Proclamation 9980, which made certain derivative aluminum products listed at Annex I to the proclamation subject to the 10% duty on aluminum products. It also made certain derivative steel products listed at Annex II to the proclamation subject to the 25% duty on steel products. These derivative products included wire and bumper stampings.
Links: Proclamation 9980
On February 10, 2025, President Trump issued Proclamation 10895, which cancelled all previous bilateral agreements and exclusions regarding the Section 232 aluminum duties and increased the tariff rate on aluminum products and derivatives from 10% to 25%, and Proclamation 10896, which canceled all previous bilateral agreements and exclusions regarding the Section 232 steel duties.
These two proclamations made imports of a wide range of additional derivative products subject to duties. Both proclamations clarified that duties only were applicable to the steel or aluminum content of imported articles. For aluminum products, Proclamation 10895 clarified that duties apply to the aluminum content of derivative articles, but not to derivative aluminum articles processed in another country from aluminum articles that were smelted and cast in the United States.
Links: Proclamation 10895 | Proclamation 10896
On March 5, 2025, the Bureau of Industry and Security at the U.S. Department of Commerce published two notices in the Federal Register implementing Proclamations 10895 and 10896 by updating notes to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States. These updated notes include the relevant Chapter 99 tariff codes companies must use when importing products subject to duties.
Links: Aluminum Notice (90 FR 11251) | Steel Notice (90 FR 11249)
On April 4, 2025, the Bureau of Industry and Security at the U.S. Department of Commerce published a notice in the Federal Register revising Annex I of Proclamation 10895 to include imports of beer and empty aluminum cans.
Links: Beer and Aluminum Can Notice (90 FR 14786)
On April 29, 2025, President Trump issued Proclamation 14289, which clarified that the steel and aluminum Section 232 duties would not "stack" or apply cumulatively with certain other duties. In brief: if a product is subject to Section 232 duties on automobiles, it will not also be subject to duties on goods from Canada or Mexico under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) targeting fentanyl imports ("IEEPA duties"), or Section 232 duties on steel and aluminum. If a product is subject to IEEPA duties, it will not also be subject to Section 232 duties on steel and aluminum. Products subject to Section 232 duties on steel can also be subject to Section 232 duties on aluminum, and vice-versa, provided the imported product satisfies the criteria for both.
However, all other duties, including Section 301 duties, AD/CVD duties, and standard duties listed on the HTSUS continue to apply concurrently with Section 232 duties.
Links: Executive Order 14289