Section 232 Tariffs: Steel, Aluminum, and Copper in 2026
Section 232 tariffs started as a steel and aluminum story. In 2026, they cover copper, semiconductors, and pharmaceuticals too -- and the rates have never been higher. If you import metals or anything made with them, this is the single most important tariff authority to understand.
This guide covers what Section 232 is, what changed on April 6, 2026, and what it means for your costs.
What Is Section 232?
Section 232 refers to Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. It gives the President authority to impose tariffs on imports that threaten US national security.
Here is how the process works:
- The Department of Commerce investigates whether a specific import category threatens national security.
- Commerce delivers a report to the President with findings and recommendations.
- The President decides whether to act and at what rate.
- There is no Congressional vote required and no expiration date.
That last point matters. Unlike Section 301 tariffs (which require periodic review) or Section 122 tariffs (which expire after 150 days), Section 232 tariffs have no built-in sunset. Once imposed, they stay until the President lifts them.
The "national security" justification is broad. Commerce has applied it to metals (defense supply chain), semiconductors (critical technology), and pharmaceuticals (public health security). Courts have historically given the executive wide latitude in defining what constitutes a national security threat.
A Brief History: 2018 to 2026
March 2018: President Trump imposed 25% tariffs on steel imports and 10% on aluminum imports under Section 232. Several countries received exemptions or quota arrangements (Canada, Mexico, the EU, South Korea, Australia, Brazil, Argentina).
March 2025: All country exemptions and quotas were revoked. The aluminum rate was raised to 25%, matching steel. Every country now paid 25% on steel and aluminum with no exceptions.
January 2026: Section 232 tariffs of 25% were imposed on semiconductor imports (HTS headings 8541 and 8542), citing dependence on foreign chip fabrication as a national security risk.
April 6, 2026: The rate on steel, aluminum, and copper doubled to 50%. Copper was added to Section 232 for the first time. Derivative products were set at 25%. The tariff calculation method changed to apply to the full customs value of the imported good. This is where we are now.
July 31, 2026 (upcoming): Section 232 tariffs of 100% on patented pharmaceuticals and active pharmaceutical ingredients take effect.
Current Section 232 Rates at a Glance
| Category | Rate | HTS Chapters | Effective Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steel and iron articles | 50% | 72, 73 | April 6, 2026 |
| Aluminum articles | 50% | 76 | April 6, 2026 |
| Copper articles | 50% | 74 | April 6, 2026 |
| Derivative products (metal-containing) | 25% | Various | April 6, 2026 |
| Semiconductors | 25% | 8541, 8542 | January 2026 |
| Patented pharmaceuticals | 100% | 29, 30 | July 31, 2026 |
Important: Goods already subject to Section 232 are generally exempt from the Section 122 global baseline surcharge. You do not pay both.
The April 6, 2026 Changes in Detail
Three things changed simultaneously on April 6, and each one independently increases what importers owe.
1. Rates Doubled to 50%
Steel and aluminum tariffs went from 25% to 50%. That is a 25-percentage-point increase, not a marginal bump. The same proclamation added copper at 50% -- the first time copper has been subject to Section 232 duties.
2. Full Customs Value, Not Just Metal Content
This is the change many importers are missing. Before April 6, there was ambiguity about how duties applied to finished goods that contained steel, aluminum, or copper. The new proclamation is explicit: the tariff applies to the full customs value of the imported article.
That means a $200 copper fixture with $60 of copper content is taxed on the full $200 -- not just the $60. A $500 aluminum bicycle frame is taxed on $500.
3. The 15% Metal Content Exemption
Products where the metal (steel, aluminum, or copper) represents less than 15% of the total customs value are exempt from the Section 232 metals tariff. This is the escape valve for goods that happen to contain incidental metal.
To claim this exemption, you need documentation showing the bill of materials and the value breakdown. Your supplier should be able to provide this. If the metal content is anywhere near the 15% line, get a formal valuation done -- CBP will audit borderline claims.
4. Derivative Products at 25%
"Derivative products" are downstream goods that contain Section 232 metals but are classified outside the primary metal chapters (72, 73, 74, 76). These face a 25% tariff rather than the full 50%. Examples include certain machinery, vehicles, and fabricated metal goods classified in other HTS chapters.
HTS Chapters You Need to Check
If any of your HTS codes begin with these chapter numbers, your rates changed on April 6:
| HTS Chapter | Description | Section 232 Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 72 | Iron and steel | 50% |
| 73 | Articles of iron or steel (fasteners, pipes, structures, kitchenware) | 50% |
| 74 | Copper and articles thereof (wire, tubes, fittings) | 50% |
| 76 | Aluminum and articles thereof (foil, cans, extrusions, structures) | 50% |
These four chapters cover thousands of HTS codes. Chapter 73 alone includes everything from screws and bolts to steel furniture, stoves, and radiators. Chapter 74 covers copper wire, cable, plumbing fittings, and electrical connectors.
If you are unsure whether your products fall under these chapters, look up your HTS code here.
Section 232 on Semiconductors
Since January 2026, semiconductor imports face a 25% Section 232 tariff under HTS headings 8541 (semiconductor devices, LEDs, photovoltaic cells) and 8542 (integrated circuits, processors, memory chips).
This applies regardless of country of origin. Whether your chips come from Taiwan, South Korea, or the EU, the 25% rate applies. Semiconductors from China face this 25% on top of existing Section 301 rates, pushing effective rates above 50%.
Section 232 on Pharmaceuticals
Effective July 31, 2026, patented pharmaceuticals and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) classified under HTS Chapters 29 (organic chemicals) and 30 (pharmaceutical products) face a 100% Section 232 tariff.
Key details:
- Generic drugs and biosimilars are exempt for now
- Companies can negotiate to 0% by committing to US manufacturing and Most Favored Nation pricing
- Companies can get 20% with onshoring commitments alone
- Imports from the EU, Japan, South Korea, and Switzerland face a reduced rate of 15% under bilateral agreements
For more, see our detailed breakdown: 100% Tariff on Pharmaceutical Imports Coming July 31.
Dollar Impact: What This Looks Like for a Small Importer
Here are realistic scenarios for businesses importing $200,000 of goods annually:
Steel fasteners from Taiwan ($200,000/year)
| Before April 6 | After April 6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Customs value | $200,000 | $200,000 |
| Base duty (MFN) | ~3.4% = $6,800 | ~3.4% = $6,800 |
| Section 232 | 25% = $50,000 | 50% = $100,000 |
| Total duty | $56,800 | $106,800 |
| Annual increase | +$50,000 |
Copper wire from Mexico ($200,000/year)
| Before April 6 | After April 6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Customs value | $200,000 | $200,000 |
| Base duty (MFN or USMCA) | Free - 3% | Free - 3% |
| Section 232 (copper) | $0 (not covered) | 50% = $100,000 |
| Total duty | $0 - $6,000 | $100,000 - $106,000 |
| Annual increase | +$94,000 to $106,000 |
The copper scenario is the most dramatic. Importers who had zero Section 232 exposure on copper are now paying 50% overnight with no transition period.
What You Should Do Now
1. Audit your HTS codes. Pull every code you import under and check whether it falls in Chapters 72, 73, 74, or 76. Use our free HTS lookup tool to see current rates.
2. Evaluate the 15% threshold. For finished products that contain metal, calculate whether the metal content is above or below 15% of the customs value. Get written documentation from your supplier showing the bill of materials and component values. If you are below 15%, you can claim the exemption.
3. Review reclassification options. Some products sit at the boundary between metal chapters and other chapters. A steel cart with a wooden top might classify under furniture (Chapter 94) rather than steel articles (Chapter 73) depending on its essential character. This is a judgment call -- talk to a licensed customs broker before reclassifying.
4. Update financial models. If you were budgeting for 25% on steel and aluminum, your costs just doubled on that line item. For copper importers, this cost may not have existed at all in your previous models.
5. Explore sourcing changes carefully. Section 232 tariffs apply regardless of country of origin -- there is no country exemption. Shifting suppliers to a different country does not reduce your Section 232 rate. The only lever is the product classification and the 15% threshold.
How Section 232 Interacts with Other Tariffs
Section 232 does not stack with the Section 122 global baseline surcharge -- goods covered by Section 232 are exempt from the 10% baseline. However, Section 232 does stack with:
- Base MFN duty rates (Column 1 General)
- Section 301 tariffs (if the product is from China and covered by both)
- Fentanyl duty (20% on all Chinese imports)
A steel product from China could face: MFN base rate + 50% Section 232 + 25% Section 301 + 20% fentanyl duty. The effective rate can exceed 100%.
For a full explanation of how tariff layers stack, see The Complete Guide to US Import Tariffs in 2026.
Stay Ahead of Section 232 Changes
Section 232 tariffs have changed three times in the past 14 months. The pharmaceutical tariff has not even taken effect yet. More expansions are possible at any time -- the President does not need Congressional approval.
The importers who handle this well are the ones who know about changes before their next shipment clears customs, not after.
Look up your HTS codes to see current Section 232 rates. For real-time alerts when rates change, set up monitoring with TariffDesk -- enter your codes once and get notified the moment something moves.
Last updated April 8, 2026. For breaking news on the April 6 metals tariff increase, see: Steel, Aluminum, and Copper Tariffs Jump to 50%.