Steel & Aluminum Tariff Rates 2026: US Import Duties by Country & HTS Code

What This Covers

The steel and aluminum surcharge covers steel products, aluminum sheets, bars, semi-finished metals, and related products classified under HTS chapters 72-76. This sector is uniquely governed by Section 232 national security tariffs. After the April 6, 2026 restructure, the rate is two-tier: 50% applies to articles wholly or primarily of steel, aluminum, or copper (primary products in HTS chapters 72/73/74/76, doubled from 25% in June 2025), while derivative articles with more than 15% applicable metal content are dutied at 25% — in both cases assessed on the full customs value of the article. The UK pays 25% under the Economic Prosperity Deal. EU steel and aluminum are carved out of the EU-US trade deal's 15% ceiling (effective July 1, 2026) and remain at the full 50% Section 232 rate, subject to further negotiation. These Section 232 tariffs were not affected by the Supreme Court's February 20, 2026 ruling. Importantly, Section 232 goods are excluded from the base surcharge to the extent the 232 duty applies — the base surcharge reaches only any non-metal content — so a wholly-metal article stays at 50% (not 60%). The 10% Section 122 tariff (in effect February 24 – July 24, 2026) expired at its 150-day statutory limit on July 24, 2026 and was replaced the same day by the two-tier 10%/12.5% Section 301 forced-labor tariff, which likewise does not stack on the Section 232 metal content.

Most Affected Countries

Since the April 6, 2026 restructure, Section 232 is product-based rather than country-uniform: articles wholly or primarily of steel/aluminum/copper carry 50% (doubled from 25% in June 2025) while derivative articles substantially made of those metals carry 25%, in both cases on the full customs value (the UK has a 25% arrangement under EPD). Canada, Brazil, and Mexico are significant steel suppliers whose wholly-metal articles face the full 50% rate, with derivatives at 25%. South Korea has a tariff-rate quota (TRQ) arrangement allowing a set volume at reduced rates, with the full Section 232 rate applying once quotas are exceeded. The base surcharge does not stack on the Section 232 metal content, so a wholly-metal article is dutied at its Section 232 rate alone.

How Surcharges Stack

Steel and aluminum tariff stacking begins with the Section 232 duty as the base layer, which was unaffected by the SCOTUS ruling and applies regardless of other trade preferences. Since the April 6, 2026 restructure, the base layer is two-tier: 50% on articles wholly or primarily of steel/aluminum/copper (Annex I-A primary products) and 25% on derivative articles substantially made of those metals (Annex I-B), both assessed on the full customs value. Because this sector spans HTS chapters 72-76, which includes many derivative articles now at 25%, not every shipment is dutied at 50%. Critically, Section 232 goods are excluded from the base surcharge to the extent the 232 duty applies (the base surcharge reaches only any non-metal content), so a wholly-metal article stays at 50% — not 60% — and a derivative article stays at 25% on the full customs value. The UK's EPD rate is 25% on metal articles. What DOES stack is Section 301 (China) and any MFN base on non-metal content. Countries with TRQ arrangements may import within their quota at reduced Section 232 rates.

Sourcing Strategies

The narrow 10%/12.5% forced-labor spread keeps the base surcharge broadly comparable among steel exporters, meaning sourcing decisions can focus on quality, lead time, and base pricing rather than navigating wide country-specific tariff differentials. Importers should closely monitor quota utilization rates for countries with TRQ arrangements, as timing shipments within quota periods still reduces Section 232 costs. Sourcing from Canada and Mexico under USMCA provides the most favorable treatment for the base-surcharge component, though Section 232 tariffs may still apply depending on product and exemption status. Section 122 expired July 24, 2026 and was replaced the same day by the Section 301 forced-labor tariff (10% or 12.5% by tier); the base surcharge still does not stack on the Section 232 metal content, and Section 232 duties persist regardless.