Steel from Germany: 50% US Tariff (2026)

Importing steel from Germany into the US in 2026 means navigating multiple tariff layers. The current total effective rate runs approximately 50% on most steel imports under HTS chapters 72-73, 76. The reciprocal rate on Germany did not change after SCOTUS — IEEPA refunds are limited to importers who specifically paid the temporary IEEPA layer in 2025.

The current rate on steel from Germany is governed by the 15% EU-US deal ceiling (effective July 1, 2026) — an all-inclusive rate, so goods with an MFN duty of 15% or higher pay only MFN, and it is not affected by the July 24 Section 122 sunset. Articles wholly of steel or aluminum pay the 50% Section 232 rate on full customs value instead — the reciprocal layer does not stack on the metal content (derivatives pay 25% on the metal portion). Section 232 duties are NOT refundable — only the IEEPA layer is.

For most importers, the 50% total represents a meaningful change from the pre-SCOTUS regime, when the IEEPA reciprocal layer pushed Germany steel imports to 50% effective. SCOTUS struck down the IEEPA reciprocal layer on February 20, 2026 in Learning Resources v. Trump, opening a refund pool of approximately $166 billion for affected importers.

Calculator-driven estimation is the fastest way to model the full landed cost including the 15% EU deal ceiling and any applicable surcharges.

Bottom line for steel importers from Germany: confirm your HTS classification, account for the 15% EU-US deal ceiling (and Section 232/301 if applicable), and — if you paid IEEPA duties in 2025 — check your refund eligibility before the Phase 1 windows close on a rolling basis through Q3 2026.