Section 232 Tariff Rates: Every Product Covered and What You Pay
Complete Section 232 tariff rate guide. Covers steel (50%), aluminum (50%), autos (25%), copper (50%), lumber, semiconductors (25%), and upcoming investigations.
Co-Founder of GingerControl, Building scalable AI and automated workflows for trade compliance teams.
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Section 232 tariffs currently cover six product categories: steel and aluminum (50%), automobiles and auto parts (25%), copper (50%), timber and lumber (10-25%), and semiconductors (25%). Active investigations may lead to tariffs on pharmaceuticals, critical minerals, aircraft, drones, and robotics. Unlike IEEPA tariffs, Section 232 tariffs were not affected by the February 2026 Supreme Court ruling and remain in full force.
What Are the Current Section 232 Tariff Rates?
The rates range from 10% to 50% depending on the product category. Steel and aluminum were raised to 50% in June 2025. Automobile tariffs are 25% for most countries, with reduced rates of 10-15% for countries with bilateral trade deals. Semiconductor tariffs at 25% took effect January 15, 2026 and cover a narrow range of advanced computing chips.
Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 authorizes the President to impose tariffs on imports that "threaten to impair the national security." The Commerce Department conducts an investigation, and if it finds a threat, the President has broad authority to set tariff rates and scope. Since 2025, the administration has dramatically expanded the use of Section 232, initiating multiple new investigations and raising rates on existing covered products.
Last updated: March 2026
Complete Section 232 Product Table
| Product Category | Tariff Rate | Effective Date | USMCA Exempt? | Key HTS Chapters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steel (all forms) | 50% | June 4, 2025 (raised from 25%) | No | Ch. 72, 73 |
| Steel derivatives | 50% on steel content + reciprocal on remainder | June 4, 2025 | No | Various |
| Aluminum (all forms) | 50% | June 4, 2025 (raised from 25%) | No | Ch. 76 |
| Aluminum derivatives | 50% on aluminum content + reciprocal on remainder | June 4, 2025 | No | Various |
| Passenger vehicles | 25% | March 2025 | USMCA carve-out for qualifying vehicles | Ch. 87 |
| Light trucks | 25% | March 2025 | USMCA carve-out | Ch. 87 |
| Auto parts | 25% | 2025 | USMCA carve-out for qualifying parts | Ch. 87 |
| Medium/heavy-duty vehicles | 25% | 2025 | Limited exemptions | Ch. 87 |
| Copper (semi-finished and derivatives) | 50% | August 1, 2025 | No | Ch. 74 |
| Timber and lumber | 10-25% | October 14, 2025 | No (USMCA not exempt) | Ch. 44 |
| Semiconductors (advanced) | 25% | January 15, 2026 | No | Ch. 85 |
Steel and Aluminum Details
The original 2018 Section 232 tariffs were 25% on steel and 10% on aluminum. In March 2025, all country exemptions and most product exclusions were eliminated. In June 2025, rates were raised to 50% for both metals. The tariffs cover:
- All basic steel and aluminum products (sheets, plates, bars, rods, wire, pipes, tubes)
- Steel and aluminum derivatives (products containing steel or aluminum content)
- For derivative products, the 50% tariff applies to the metal content, and the applicable reciprocal tariff (now Section 122 at 10%) applies to the remaining value
Penn Wharton Budget Model data shows steel and aluminum products face the highest effective tariff rate at 41.1% across all product categories.
Automobile and Auto Parts Details
The 25% Section 232 tariff on autos was based on a 2019 Commerce Department finding that auto imports threatened national security. Key details:
- Applies to passenger vehicles, light trucks, and certain parts
- USMCA carve-out: Qualifying USMCA parts for passenger vehicles may be exempt from Section 232 under HTS 9903.94.06
- Negotiated rates: South Korea, Japan, and the EU have bilateral deals reducing the auto tariff to 10-15%
- The UK received a 10% rate under its trade deal
- Medium and heavy-duty vehicles (MHDVs) and buses are covered under a separate Section 232 action
For a deeper dive on auto parts, see our published guide: Section 232 Auto Parts Tariffs: Inclusions Process, Offsets, and What Importers Need to Know.
Semiconductor Details
The January 2026 Section 232 semiconductor tariff covers a narrow range of advanced computing chips, primarily those exceeding specific Total Processing Performance (TPP) and DRAM bandwidth thresholds. Key exemptions:
- Chips imported for U.S. infrastructure and development purposes
- Use-based exclusions with required documentation
- Products already subject to the semiconductor tariff are exempt from other Section 232 tariffs and from Section 122
For a detailed analysis, see our published guide: The Section 232 Semiconductor Tariff: What Importers and Tech Companies Need to Know.
How Section 232 Interacts with Other Tariffs
Section 232 tariffs follow specific stacking rules that differ by product category:
| Scenario | What Stacks | What Doesn't Stack |
|---|---|---|
| Steel/aluminum product from China | MFN + Section 232 (50%) + Section 301 | Section 122 does not stack (Section 232 primacy) |
| Auto parts from non-USMCA country | MFN + Section 232 (25%) + Section 301 (if China) | Section 122 does not stack |
| Semiconductor from any country | MFN + Section 232 semiconductor (25%) | Other Section 232 tariffs and Section 122 do not stack |
| Steel derivative from Canada | 50% on steel content + applicable tariff on remainder | USMCA does not exempt steel from Section 232 |
GingerControl's Tariff Calculator handles all Section 232 stacking rules automatically, including derivative product calculations and USMCA interaction for auto parts. Enter your HTS code and see every duty component.
Upcoming Section 232 Investigations
The Commerce Department has active or pending investigations that could expand Section 232 coverage to additional products:
| Product | Investigation Status | Potential Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Pharmaceuticals | Investigation ongoing | Expected 25% (capped at 15% for deal countries) |
| Critical minerals (processed) | Investigation initiated | TBD |
| Aircraft and aircraft parts | Under review | TBD |
| Drones/unmanned aircraft | Under review | TBD |
| Robotics | Under review | TBD |
GingerControl is a trade compliance AI platform that helps importers, exporters, and customs brokers classify products, simulate tariff costs, and track policy changes. The Tariff Calculator is updated as new Section 232 tariffs take effect.
FAQ
Are Section 232 tariffs affected by the Supreme Court ruling?
No. The February 2026 Supreme Court ruling struck down IEEPA tariffs only. Section 232 tariffs are authorized under the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, a separate statutory authority that was not challenged. All Section 232 tariffs remain in full force.
Does USMCA exempt Canadian and Mexican steel from Section 232?
No. USMCA does not exempt steel, aluminum, copper, lumber, or semiconductors from Section 232 tariffs. The only USMCA-related exemption under Section 232 is for qualifying auto parts for passenger vehicles and light trucks. All other Section 232 products from Canada and Mexico face the full tariff rate.
What is the Section 232 tariff on steel from all countries?
50% ad valorem on all steel products and their derivatives, effective June 4, 2025. All country exemptions were eliminated in March 2025. For derivative products, the 50% applies to the steel content, with the remaining value subject to the applicable reciprocal tariff.
Do Section 232 and Section 301 tariffs stack?
Yes. If a product is both Section 232-covered and on a Section 301 list (e.g., Chinese steel), both tariffs apply. The Section 122 surcharge does not stack with Section 232, but Section 301 does. This can result in effective rates exceeding 75% for certain Chinese steel and aluminum products.
How do I know if my product is covered by Section 232?
Check your HTS code against CBP's Section 232 FAQ pages for steel/aluminum, and CBP guidance for autos, copper, lumber, and semiconductors. GingerControl's Tariff Calculator automatically identifies Section 232 coverage based on HTS code.
Will pharmaceuticals face Section 232 tariffs?
A Section 232 investigation into pharmaceutical imports is ongoing. Several bilateral trade deals (South Korea, EU, Switzerland) include caps of 15% on any future pharmaceutical tariff. The investigation timeline and final rate are not yet determined.
Check Your Section 232 Exposure
Section 232 tariffs are the highest tariff rates in the current U.S. system, reaching 50% on steel, aluminum, and copper. GingerControl's Tariff Calculator covers every Section 232 product category with transparent breakdowns and stacking rules. Try it free →
GingerControl is not just a tool. We work with importers and trade compliance teams on process consulting, digital transformation strategy, and end-to-end custom system development. Talk to our team →
References
[REF 1] CRS — Presidential 2025 Tariff Actions Timeline Data cited: Section 232 rates by product, USMCA exemptions, negotiated auto rates, investigation timeline Source: CRS R48549 Published: 2026
[REF 2] CRS — Expanded Section 232 Tariffs on Steel and Aluminum Data cited: Steel/aluminum raised to 50% June 2025, country exemption elimination, derivative stacking rules Source: CRS IN12519 Published: 2025
[REF 3] Penn Wharton Budget Model — Effective Tariff Rates Data cited: Steel/aluminum ETR at 41.1%, highest across product categories Source: Penn Wharton Published: March 16, 2026
[REF 4] CBP — Section 232 Steel and Aluminum FAQs Data cited: HTS code coverage, stacking procedures, derivative calculations Source: CBP Published: Current
[REF 5] Global Trade Alert — US Tariff Stacking Explained Data cited: Derivative stacking procedure, timber tariff ranges, semiconductor non-stacking rules Source: Global Trade Alert Published: 2025
Written by
Chen Cui
Co-Founder of GingerControl
Building scalable AI and automated workflows for trade compliance teams.
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