DOCS

Section 232

Section 232

What Section 232 is, which product categories it covers, and where to find the details for each.

Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 (19 U.S.C. § 1862) lets the President adjust imports — through tariffs, quotas, or import agreements — when the Department of Commerce finds that the imports "threaten to impair the national security." Each covered product category comes from its own investigation and its own presidential proclamation, with its own rates, exemptions, and country arrangements. There is no single Section 232 rate; you have to look at the specific category.

What's covered so far 

  • Steel and aluminum — active since 2018 (Proclamations 9705 and 9704), most recently updated by Proclamation 11032 (June 8, 2026).
  • Copper — added by Proclamation 11032, alongside steel and aluminum.
  • Pharmaceuticals — under Section 232 investigation; see the Pharmaceuticals page in this section for what's confirmed so far and where it's actually about postal entry mechanics rather than tariff rates.
  • Timber and lumber, semiconductors, and autos and auto parts — also subject to their own Section 232 actions, referenced elsewhere in these guides (for example, as exemption categories in the Section 301 forced-labor guide) but not yet covered by a standalone page here.
Not every category has its own page yet

This section currently has detailed pages for steel and aluminum and pharmaceuticals only. For copper, timber, semiconductors, or autos and auto parts, check CBP and Commerce guidance directly.

How it interacts with other duty regimes 

Section 232 duties are separate from, and often take priority over, other duty regimes covered elsewhere in these guides — including antidumping and countervailing duties (AD/CVD) and the Section 301 forced-labor tariffs. See those guides for the specifics of how each stacks with, or is exempted by, Section 232 coverage.

Disclaimer

This guide is for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal or customs advice. Consult a licensed customs broker or trade attorney for product-specific determinations.

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