Commerce Department Adds New Imported Products Subject to Steel and Aluminum Tariffs
On Friday, August 15, the U.S. Department of Commerce released a new list of steel- and aluminum-containing products that will be subject to the Section 232 steel and aluminum national security tariffs, including certain equipment and components.
The expanded scope of products that will now be subject to the 50 percent duties includes 407 new steel and aluminum derivative HTS (Harmonized Tariff Schedule) codes. These duties went into effect, on Monday, August 18, 2025, at 12:01 a.m. ET. There is no exception for goods in transit.
Importantly for the recycled materials industry, recycled steel and aluminum remain out of scope of the Section 232 steel and aluminum tariffs.
The vast majority of these new HTS numbers are at the 8-digit-level, though there are some at the 10-digit level. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued guidance for the steel derivatives and aluminum derivatives through its Cargo Systems Messaging Service (CSMS).
The 50 percent derivatives tariff applies only to the steel or aluminum content of the imported products. In other words, the non-steel and non-aluminum content will not be subject to the Section 232 derivatives duty of 50 percent, but will remain subject to other tariff programs, such as the reciprocal tariffs.
ReMA will undertake an analysis of the new list of HTS codes in Annex I that will now be subject to the 50 percent derivatives duty. There are several products that the association has immediately identified as being subject to these measures:
- Lifters, material handlers, and loading conveyers under 8428.90.03.
- Shredder wear parts imported under 8479.90.95.
ReMA is asking its members to email staff with HTS codes of imported products they would like the Association to track, particularly those for equipment, machinery, and components, to: [email protected], so ReMA can monitor developments for members.
ReMA will work to establish an internal review process during the 14-day public comment period to provide information on inclusion requests for members during that period.