Section 232 Impact on Steel Imports for 2026: New Tariff Measures and Elimination of Exclusions
Effective March 12, 2025, the United States implemented significant changes to Section 232 tariffs on steel, eliminating all country and product exclusions and imposing a universal 25% tariff. These measures will have substantial implications for steel trade into 2026.
What changes
Se elimina el sistema de cuotas y exclusiones arancelarias para todos los países, incluyendo socios del T-MEC. El arancel del 25% aplica a todas las importaciones de acero clasificadas en el Capítulo 72 y ciertas partidas del Capítulo 73 del HTS, sin excepciones por origen o tipo de producto.
Who is impacted
Importadores estadounidenses de productos de acero, exportadores mexicanos y canadienses de acero, industrias manufactureras que utilizan acero como insumo (automotriz, construcción, electrodomésticos), distribuidores y comercializadores de acero.
Recommended actions
- ›Revisar contratos de suministro y actualizar costos considerando el arancel del 25%
- ›Verificar clasificación arancelaria de todos los productos de acero importados
- ›Evaluar alternativas de proveeduría nacional vs. importación
- ›Documentar correctamente el origen de las mercancías para efectos de trazabilidad
- ›Consultar con agente aduanal sobre el estatus de exclusiones previamente aprobadas
Presidential Proclamation 10896, published in February 2025, establishes substantial modifications to the Section 232 tariff regime for steel products, with effects extending throughout 2026. The most significant measure is the complete elimination of the exclusion system that allowed certain countries and specific products to enter without paying the 25% tariff or under preferential quota schemes.
For Mexico, this represents a fundamental change from the agreement reached in 2019 that had established a duty-free quota system. Following the effective date of the new provisions, all Mexican steel exported to the United States is subject to the 25% tariff, regardless of volume or product type. Affected tariff classifications include flat products, long products, pipe, wire, and derivatives classified primarily under headings 7206 through 7229 and 7301 through 7326 of the Harmonized System.
The projected economic impact for 2026 is considerable. Mexican steel exporters are estimated to face additional costs exceeding $1.5 billion annually in tariffs. U.S. industries dependent on imported steel, particularly the automotive and construction sectors, will need to absorb these incremental costs or seek alternative domestic supply sources.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued specific guidelines for implementing these measures. Importers must correctly declare the country of origin of steel and are subject to post-entry verifications. Previously granted exclusions under the former system are no longer valid, and there is currently no mechanism to request new exclusions.
For 2026, affected companies are advised to maintain constant monitoring of potential policy modifications, considering that trade tensions and bilateral negotiations could generate adjustments. However, until further notice, the 25% tariff remains the applicable rule for all steel imports regardless of origin.