Importing Steel & Iron Products to the US
Duty Rates for Steel & Iron Products Imports
0%–3% MFN + 25% Section 232 most origins
Duty rates for steel & iron products vary significantly by specific product type, material, and country of origin. The rates above represent the typical range — use the HTS classifier to get the exact rate for your specific product.
HTS Chapters
- Chapter 72 — Iron and Steel
- Chapter 73 — Articles of Iron/Steel
Common HTS Code Headings
Classify Your Steel & Iron Products Product
Enter your product description and origin to get the exact HTS code, duty rate, and Section 301 status.
Regulatory Requirements for Steel & Iron Products Imports
Beyond standard CBP duties, steel & iron products imports may require:
- Buy American Act compliance for government contracts
- ASTM material standards
- Country of melt and pour documentation
Common Pitfalls
- Section 232 exemption eligibility confusion
- Country of origin for steel (melt/pour rule)
- AMS/ASTM specification mismatches
Check All Compliance Requirements
Track FDA, USDA, CPSC, EPA, and CBP requirements for your steel & iron products product catalog.
How Country of Origin Affects Steel & Iron Products Duty Rates
The country where your steel & iron products are manufactured significantly impacts your total duty burden:
| Origin Country | Trade Agreement | Section 301 | Est. Total Duty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇨🇦 Canada | USMCA | None | 0% (USMCA) |
| 🇲🇽 Mexico | USMCA | None | 0% (USMCA) |
| 🇰🇷 South Korea | KORUS | None | 0% (KORUS) |
| 🇯🇵 Japan | USJTA | None | 0% (USJTA) |
| 🇧🇷 Brazil | None | None | MFN Rate |
Calculate Landed Cost by Country
Compare total import costs for steel & iron products across different origin countries including duty, freight, and fees.
Common Questions About Importing Steel & Iron Products
Section 232 imposes a 25% additional tariff on most steel imports (HTS Chapters 72–73). Country exemptions and TRQ arrangements as of 2026: Canada and Mexico are exempt under USMCA. Australia is fully exempt. The EU, South Korea, Japan, Brazil, Argentina, and Ukraine operate under Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) arrangements — steel within quota volumes enters at 0% Section 232, while above-quota shipments trigger 25%. When a quarterly TRQ fills, importers face the full 25% with no advance notice. All other countries — including China, India, Taiwan, Vietnam — face the full 25% with no exemption. The Section 232 rate is additive on top of MFN base rates, which are typically 0%–3% for steel products.
Key HTS codes for steel imports with MFN base rates: hot-rolled steel flat products (HTS 7208.10) 0%, cold-rolled (7209.16) 0%, galvanized/coated (7210.49) 0%, steel rebar (7213.10) 0%, wire rod (7213.91) 0%, structural shapes (7216) 0%, steel pipe (7304/7305/7306) 0%–3.7%, stainless flat products (7219) 0%–3.3%. Most steel HTS codes carry 0%–3% MFN base rates — Section 232 is the dominant cost driver at 25%, not the MFN rate. Iron (Chapter 72 pig iron, HTS 7201–7203) also carries 0%–1.5% MFN. Section 232 applies additively on top of these base rates.
For Section 232 purposes, country of origin for steel is determined by where the steel was melted and poured — not where it was further processed, rolled, coated, or fabricated. This rule is critical: Chinese-origin steel billets processed into finished coil in Vietnam still carry Chinese origin for Section 232 and owe the full 25% surcharge. CBP verifies origin using mill certificates, heat numbers, and production affidavits from steel mills. The "country of melt and pour" rule differs from the standard substantial transformation test used for most other products — even a significant finishing operation in a third country does not confer new steel origin. Importers buying through intermediaries should always request original mill certificates tracing the steel back to its country of melt.
Over 150 active AD/CVD orders cover steel products from dozens of countries. Major orders include: hot-rolled steel flat products from China (CVD rates 265%+), cold-rolled steel from China (combined AD+CVD rates can exceed 500%), oil country tubular goods (OCTG) from South Korea and India, and corrosion-resistant steel from multiple countries. Combined AD + CVD + Section 232 rates on some Chinese steel products can exceed 550%. Check enforcement.trade.gov and USITC's AD/CVD portal for current cash deposit rates by HTS code and company before importing. AD/CVD rates are company-specific and change through annual administrative reviews — the rate in effect when your entry liquidates (not when you import) determines final liability.
41 USC 8302 (Buy American Act) requires US-manufactured steel for federal government direct purchases above the simplified acquisition threshold. The Build America Buy America Act (BABA, 2021 infrastructure law) extends domestic steel and iron requirements to all infrastructure projects receiving federal financial assistance — including highways, transit, airports, water systems, and broadband. Under BABA, steel must be melted, poured, and manufactured in the US. Waivers are available but require agency approval. Contractors and suppliers on federally funded infrastructure projects should verify steel sourcing requirements before procurement. TAA (Trade Agreements Act) waivers may apply for some acquisitions above the threshold — consult legal counsel for project-specific guidance.
Steel & Iron Products Import Analysis — 2026 Tariff Environment
The 2026 Tariff Environment for Steel & Iron Products
The US tariff landscape for steel & iron products imports has shifted dramatically since 2024. The April 2026 IEEPA executive order added a 10% baseline tariff on goods from countries without active free trade agreements, creating a new cost layer that affects most origin countries except Canada and Mexico, which qualify for USMCA preferential treatment. For importers, this means duty modeling must now account for MFN base rate + Section 301 (if China) + Section 232 (if steel/aluminum content) + IEEPA baseline (if non-FTA origin) + MPF + HMF — a five-layer tariff stack that requires careful calculation.
Supply Chain Dynamics: Where Steel & Iron Products Are Actually Made
The top US import sources for steel & iron products — Canada, Mexico, South Korea — each present a different cost-compliance trade-off. Canada offers a tariff advantage through USMCA — qualifying goods enter at 0% duty, bypassing Section 301, IEEPA, and MFN layers entirely. However, USMCA rules of origin require meeting regional value content (RVC) thresholds and origin tracing documentation. Importers should model total landed cost across at least three origin countries before committing to procurement contracts, using the Landed Cost Calculator for accurate comparisons.
Compliance Requirements That Steel & Iron Products Importers Miss
Steel & Iron Products imports face 3 distinct regulatory requirements, administered by multiple federal agencies operating independently. Section 232 tariffs of 25% (steel) or 10% (aluminum) apply to most origins. Even products not primarily made of steel or aluminum may trigger Section 232 if they contain steel/aluminum components above de minimis levels. The "country of melt and pour" rule determines origin for Section 232 purposes — this is different from the standard substantial transformation test used for most other products. Run a compliance check to identify every agency with jurisdiction over your specific product.
Reducing Your Steel & Iron Products Import Costs in 2026
With multiple tariff layers stacking, steel & iron products importers have several cost optimization strategies:
- HTS classification optimization: Many steel & iron products products can be classified under multiple headings with different duty rates. A classification review by a licensed customs broker or trade attorney can identify lower-duty alternatives. Use the HTS Classifier for initial assessment.
- USMCA preference utilization: If sourcing from Mexico or Canada, ensure your products meet USMCA rules of origin. Many importers fail to claim available FTA preferences because they lack the required certificate of origin documentation — leaving money on the table on every shipment.
- Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) strategy: Importing steel & iron products into an FTZ before entering US commerce can reduce duty exposure through inverted tariff manufacturing, duty deferral, and re-export without duty payment.
- Duty drawback: If you re-export steel & iron products (or use imported materials in goods that are exported), you may recover up to 99% of duties paid through the CBP drawback program.
- First Sale valuation: For multi-tier supply chains (manufacturer → middleman → importer), the "first sale" rule allows duties to be assessed on the lower manufacturer-to-middleman price rather than the middleman-to-importer price — reducing the dutiable value by 15%–30% in many cases.
For a complete tariff exposure analysis of your specific steel & iron products products, order a $29 HTS Classification Report — includes duty breakdown, alternative classifications, and sourcing comparison.
Need to budget for a specific shipment? Get a $49 Landed Cost Analysis — itemized freight, duties, fees, and cost-per-unit across 3 shipment sizes.
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Tariff rates are sourced from USITC HTS Schedule as of 2026-07-04. Compliance requirements based on current CBP, FDA, USDA, and CPSC regulations. Always verify with official sources before importing. AI-assisted analysis — not legal or customs advice.