GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 25, 2026

Section 232

Section 232 of the U.S.

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Last updated: 25 June 2026Published: 23 June 2026

Source: U.S. Trade Expansion Act of 1962, Section 232; Presidential Proclamation of 1 June 2026 (Federal Register, FR 2026-06-04), https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-06-04/pdf/2026-11314.pdf; CBP CSMS #68855869 (5 June 2026); Thompson Hine SmarTrade (10 June 2026), https://www.thompsonhinesmartrade.com/2026/06/president-trump-modifies-section-232-tariffs-on-aluminum-copper-and-steel-imports/. Stand: Juni 2026

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Logistics Concept

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Definition & Explanation

Section 232 of the U.S. Trade Expansion Act of 1962 is a legal authority that allows the US president to impose import tariffs or quantitative restrictions where the Department of Commerce determines that imports threaten US national security. Unlike Section 301, which targets a partner country's unfair trade practices, and Section 201 (safeguard), Section 232 rests on a security argument — such as preserving domestic production capacity in sectors deemed strategic. On this basis the US imposed tariffs on steel (25 percent) and aluminium (10 percent) in 2018 and sharply expanded the measures in 2025/2026. As of June 2026 these include: steel, aluminium and copper at 50 percent on the full value of the base articles, or 25 percent on derivative products; a restructuring that took effect on 8 June 2026 (Proclamation of 1 June 2026, temporary through 31 December 2027) cuts the rates on certain agricultural and industrial equipment from 25 to 15 percent and newly creates a 10 percent rate for foreign capital equipment containing at least 85 percent U.S. steel or aluminium content; selected industrial goods from partner countries (including Switzerland, the EU, Japan, South Korea, the UK and Taiwan) receive preferential treatment at 15 percent, while for USMCA-qualifying goods from Canada/Mexico the rate applies only to the non-U.S. content. In addition: vehicles and parts at 25 percent; semiconductors at 25 percent; and patented pharmaceuticals up to 100 percent. Section 232 tariffs generally apply across countries but can be capped by agreement — for instance pharmaceutical and semiconductor tariffs are capped at 15 percent for Switzerland and the EU (UK 10 percent). They were unaffected by the Supreme Court ruling on the IEEPA tariffs (February 2026). As of June 2026.

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Section 232

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