Steel and aluminum
Primary articles and listed derivatives remain in scope. The applicable treatment depends on the exact Annex and Chapter 99 category.
Reviewed July 31, 2026 | HTS 2026 Rev. 13
Section 232 tariffs on steel, aluminum, copper, and derivatives
Current Section 232 treatment is not one universal metal rate. The exact result depends on tariff-line scope, the applicable tier, origin and material facts, and the rules effective on the entry date.
Do not use an old country-rate chart for filing. The 2026 proclamations changed product lists, full-value treatment, reduced-rate categories, origin rules, and derivative scope. Use the current HTS provision returned for the exact product and entry date.
Current metals framework
Coverage extends beyond raw metal and metal chapters
The controlling product lists live in current HTS notes and proclamation annexes. A finished machine, appliance, or component can be covered as a derivative even when its classification is outside Chapters 72, 73, 74, or 76.
Copper
Copper articles and derivatives are now part of the same broader metals analysis. Do not treat copper as merely a future or proposed program.
Downstream derivatives
Listed finished and semi-finished products can receive full-value, derivative, or temporary category-specific treatment.
Why rates vary
The 2026 framework uses multiple treatment paths
Recent proclamations use 50% and 25% headline tiers plus temporarily reduced 15% treatment for specified categories, but those figures are not a substitute for the current HTS instructions. Reduced, capped, or special treatment can turn on origin, Column 1 duty, domestic-metal content, or an approved program.
Those percentages summarize the current framework as of the review date; they are not an exhaustive country or product table.
Full customs value
Listed articles and derivatives can be assessed on the full customs value rather than only the declared value of their metal content.
Material and production facts
Melt-and-pour, smelt-and-cast, metal origin, and qualifying U.S.-metal percentages can affect treatment. The June proclamation changed the threshold used for specified U.S.-metal rules to 85%.
Temporary product categories
Specified machinery, power equipment, agricultural equipment, HVAC products, and other listed derivatives can follow temporary treatment with their own end dates.
Rolling scope and later programs
Derivative coverage can be revised. The July aluminum proclamation also authorized an investment-incentive program whose benefits require facts beyond a basic HTS lookup.
April 2026
Full-value framework
Proclamation 11021 consolidated steel, aluminum, and copper treatment, revised derivative tiers, and applied listed duties to full customs value.
June 2026
Scope and category changes
Proclamation 11032 revised product lists, temporary categories, country treatment, and the qualifying U.S.-metal threshold.
July 2026
Aluminum incentive program
A separate proclamation authorized reduced treatment tied to approved investment in U.S. primary-aluminum production.
Exact-result workflow
How to check Section 232 for a shipment
Confirm the 10-digit HTS code
Derivative lists are exact. A nearby heading or shortened code can produce the wrong scope result.
Set the entry date
Use the rules effective when the goods enter, especially for entries around the April, June, and July 2026 changes.
Collect metal facts
Document metal type, amount, origin, production location, and any melt-and-pour or smelt-and-cast facts the program requires.
Resolve the returned provision
Review the current Chapter 99 code, treatment path, rate basis, warnings, and any program-specific documentation before filing.
Frequently asked questions
What products can be subject to Section 232 metals tariffs?
Current programs cover listed steel, aluminum, and copper articles plus many derivative products. Derivatives can appear outside the metal chapters, so chapter number alone does not determine coverage.
What is the current Section 232 tariff rate?
There is no single rate for every metal product. The 2026 framework includes different full-value, derivative, temporary, origin-based, and material-based treatments. Resolve the exact HTS line, operative Chapter 99 provision, origin, material facts, and entry date.
Are copper products included in Section 232?
Yes. Copper articles and derivatives are part of the current metals framework, alongside steel and aluminum. Exact coverage is defined by the current HTS notes, Chapter 99 provisions, and proclamation annexes.
Why does the entry date matter?
The scope and treatment changed several times in 2026, including changes effective in April and June and a July aluminum investment-incentive program. Historical entries must use the measures effective on their own entry date.
Can I determine Section 232 duty from country and HTS code alone?
Not always. Some results require metal origin, melt-and-pour or smelt-and-cast facts, material percentages, product configuration, or program eligibility. The live lookup can identify the coded measure, but documentation still controls factual claims.
Official Section 232 sources
Use the current HTS and underlying proclamations for filing decisions.
USITC: Current Harmonized Tariff ScheduleWhite House: April 2, 2026 metals proclamationWhite House: June 1, 2026 metals proclamationWhite House: July 20, 2026 aluminum proclamationBIS: Section 232 investigations and actions
Data note: Reviewed July 31, 2026 against 2026HTSRev13 and the linked official materials. This guide is informational and is not legal or customs advice.