# Steel and Aluminum Tariffs (Section 232)

*Last updated: 2026-06-29*

> As of June 2026.

As of June 2026. The U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs are the oldest and so far most far-reaching sectoral tariff instrument under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, which raises import costs on "national security" grounds. Introduced in 2018 (Proclamation 9705: 25% on steel; Proclamation 9704: 10% on aluminum), the aluminum rate was raised to 25% on 10 February 2025 (Proclamations 10895/10896) and the covered derivatives were expanded. A proclamation of 3 June 2025 doubled both rates—steel, aluminum and derivatives—to 50% effective 4 June 2025 (12:01 a.m. EDT). Since the 6 April 2026 overhaul (Proclamation 11021), the duty applies to the full customs value of covered goods regardless of metal content. Proclamation 11032 (in force from 8 June 2026, temporary through 31 December 2027) expanded the reduced 15% rate to further metal-intensive goods (including agricultural equipment, residential HVAC systems and certain industrial machinery), brought new derivatives into scope (aluminum lithographic plates, steel racks) and lowered the threshold to qualify as "entirely" U.S. metal from 95% to 85%. It also capped the Section 232 rate for a group of partner countries – Argentina, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Japan, South Korea, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Taiwan, the United Kingdom and the EU – at a total of 15% including the regular import duty; for the United Kingdom this cap replaces the earlier 25% rate under the US-UK Economic Prosperity Deal. Not to be confused with reciprocal tariffs or the China-specific Section 301 tariffs: Section 232 metal tariffs apply worldwide on an origin-neutral basis. Where they overlap with other measures, special stacking rules apply; classification follows the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS). Dedicated entries provide more detail: the Section 232 steel tariffs, Section 232 aluminium tariffs and Section 232 copper tariffs.

**Source:** White House, Proclamation 11032 „Further Adjusting the Tariff Regimes for Imports of Aluminum, Steel, and Copper into the United States" (1. Juni 2026, wirksam 8. Juni 2026), https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/06/further-adjusting-the-tariff-regimes-for-imports-of-aluminum-steel-and-copper-into-the-united-states/; Proclamation 11021 (April 2026); Section 232, Trade Expansion Act of 1962 (19 U.S.C. § 1862)

## Quick Facts

| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Term | Steel and Aluminum Tariffs (Section 232) |
| Language | EN |
| Word count | 288 |
| Last updated | 2026-06-29 |
| Source | White House, Proclamation 11032 „Further Adjusting the Tariff Regimes for Imports of Aluminum, Steel, and Copper into the United States" (1. Juni 2026, wirksam 8. Juni 2026), https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/06/further-adjusting-the-tariff-regimes-for-imports-of-aluminum-steel-and-copper-into-the-united-states/; Proclamation 11021 (April 2026); Section 232, Trade Expansion Act of 1962 (19 U.S.C. § 1862) |

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