Section 232 Steel, Aluminum & Copper Tariffs 2026 — 50% on Full Value
Steel, aluminum and copper articles now pay 50% of their full customs value from every origin except the UK. Since 6 April 2026 the tariff is tiered by how much metal a product contains, and derivatives pay 25%. Goods under Section 232 skip the forced-labor tariff — but Chinese metal still pays Section 301 on top.
Steel, aluminum, copper articles
50%
Full customs value, all origins but the UK
Derivative articles
25%
Annex I-B list
United Kingdom
25%
15% for derivatives
The 2026 rate tiers
| Tier | Rate | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Annex I-A — articles wholly or almost wholly of metal | 50% | Steel coil and sheet, bars, pipes, aluminum sheet and extrusions, copper rod, wire and tube |
| Annex I-B — derivative articles substantially of metal | 25% | Listed derivatives in chapters 73, 76, 84–87 and others |
| Metal-intensive industrial and grid equipment | 15% | Transformers, agricultural machinery, residential HVAC — through 31 Dec 2027 |
| Made abroad entirely from US-smelted or -poured metal | 10% | Requires documentation at entry |
| Less than 15% metal content | 0% | No longer covered |
Proclamation effective 6 April 2026, modified 8 June 2026. Assessed on the full customs value, not the metal content.
Country treatment
United Kingdom
25% (I-A) / 15% (I-B)
The only reduced country rate
Canada, Mexico
50% / 25%
Not exempt. USMCA relief applies only to U.S. content of derivative steel articles
EU, Japan, Korea, Australia, Brazil, India, China, all others
50% / 25%
No quotas or exemptions since 12 March 2025
Russia (aluminum)
200%
All Russian-origin aluminum and derivatives
How Section 232 stacks
Section 232 replaces the 10–12.5% forced-labor Section 301 tariff for covered goods — you never pay both. It adds to MFN duty, to China's Section 301 list rate, and to anti-dumping/countervailing duties.
| Origin & product | MFN | §301 | §232 | Forced-labor | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| China (hot-rolled steel 7208) | 0% | 25% | 50% | exempt | 75% + any AD/CVD |
| China (steel bolts 7318.15) | 5.8% | 25% | 50% | exempt | 80.8% |
| Vietnam (steel pipe 7306) | 0% | — | 50% | exempt | 50% + any AD/CVD |
| Germany (aluminum sheet 7606) | 3% | — | 50% | exempt | 53% |
| UK (steel sheet 7209) | 0% | — | 25% | exempt | 25% |
| Canada (copper tube 7411) | 1–3% | — | 50% | exempt | ~51–53% |
Duty only, on the FOB value. MFN rates are indicative — check your exact 8-digit HTS code.
Other Section 232 programmes in force
- ▸ Autos and auto parts: 25%; EU, Japan and Korea 15% all-in; UK 10% all-in within a 100,000-vehicle quota.
- ▸ Trucks and buses: 25% on medium and heavy trucks, 10% on buses (since 1 November 2025).
- ▸ Timber and wood: 10% on softwood lumber; 25% on upholstered wooden furniture and wooden kitchen cabinets and vanities (the increase planned for 2026 was postponed to 2027).
- ▸ Pharmaceuticals: 100% on patented drugs and their ingredients from 31 July / 29 September 2026; 15% for the EU, Japan, Korea and Switzerland, 10% for the UK.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Section 232?
Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 lets the President restrict imports that the Commerce Department finds threaten national security. It was used in 2018 for 25% on steel and 10% on aluminum, and since 2025 for copper, autos and auto parts, trucks, timber and wood products, and patented pharmaceuticals.
What is the Section 232 tariff on steel, aluminum and copper in 2026?
50% of the full customs value for articles made wholly or almost wholly of steel, aluminum or copper, and 25% for listed derivative articles, under the restructuring that took effect on 6 April 2026. Metal-intensive industrial and grid equipment pays 15% through 2027, products made from US-smelted metal pay 10%, and goods under 15% metal content are no longer covered. UK goods pay 25% and 15%.
How did the rates get to 50%?
In 2018 the rates were 25% on steel and 10% on aluminum, with quotas or exemptions for several countries. On 12 March 2025 every country exemption and quota ended and aluminum rose to 25%. On 4 June 2025 both rose to 50% (the UK stayed at 25%). Copper followed at 50% on 1 August 2025, and derivative product lists were expanded later in 2025. The April 2026 restructuring moved assessment from metal content to the full customs value.
Which copper products are covered?
Semi-finished copper products — pipes and tubes, wire, rods, bars, plates, sheets and strip — and copper-intensive derivatives. Copper ores, concentrates, mattes, cathodes, anodes and scrap are not covered.
Do Section 232 goods also pay the forced-labor tariff?
No. Goods under a Section 232 programme are exempt from the forced-labor Section 301 tariff that replaced the Section 122 surcharge on 24 July 2026. They do still pay MFN duty, China's Section 301 list rate if Chinese, and any anti-dumping or countervailing duty.
Are Canada and Mexico exempt?
No. Canadian and Mexican steel, aluminum and copper pay the same 50% and 25% rates. USMCA only lets derivative steel articles exclude their U.S. content from the duty.
Can I get a product exclusion?
The original Commerce exclusion process has largely closed and is not a practical route for most importers. The 2026 rules instead turn on metal content and origin of the metal: under 15% metal is out of scope, and goods made from US-smelted or -poured metal can claim the 10% rate with documentation.
Related Guides
Check whether your product is covered
Enter the HS code and origin — the calculator applies Section 232, China Section 301 and the forced-labor exemption automatically. 3 calculations a day free, no signup.
Calculate my landed cost