Section 232 Inclusion Requests Cover Tens of Billions in Imports

Some companies used to be able to import the aluminum or steel material they use to manufacture their goods tariff-free, and now are paying 25%, so they have become uncompetitive. Some say the 25% steel tariffs didn't result in the level of capacity utilization and profitability that was promised. And one company asked that an item already covered in Section 232's main action be reclassified as a derivative, because the Canadian import is made with U.S. steel. If it's a derivative item, there would be no duty, but the carve-out for goods made with U.S. steel only applies to derivatives, not the first Section 232 list.

Comments on the proposed additions to the Section 232 derivative lists are due June 4. The Bureau of Industry and Security will make its final decisions on which goods to add to the lists in the next 60 days.

Many of the products are already covered by trade remedies if they are imported from certain countries, but the companies say that didn't stem imports enough.

The metal content in the requested items varies, with some items only 11% aluminum, and others 100% steel.

Some commenters provided the value of imports for the goods on which they would like the 25% tariff to apply.

The Aluminum Association requested the tariffs be applied to a variety of products under the following Harmonized Tariff Schedule subheadings (here):

• 7612.10.0000, collapsible tubular containers $35 million imported;
• 7612.90.10, Aluminum, casks, drums & like containers, for any material other than gas, almost $261 million imported;
• 7612.90.5000, Aluminum containers, nesoi, $51 million imported;
• 7613.00.0000, Aluminum containers for compressed or liquefied gas, $49 million imported;
• 7614.10.1000, Stranded wire, cables, $276 million imported;
• 7616.99.5175, Articles of aluminum wire nesoi; $8 million imported;
• 8309.90.0000, Stoppers, caps and lids nesoi, $8 million imported;
• 8419.50.1000, Brazed aluminum plate-fin heat exchangers, $394 million imported;
• 8541.43.0010 and 8541.43.0080, solar products, over $14 billion imported;
• 8504.90.20, 8504.90.41, 8504.90.65, 8504.90.75, 8504.90.96, electrical transformers and their parts, about $1.9 billion imported;
• 8504.31.20, 8504.31.40 8504.31.60; 8504.33.00; 8504.34.00, parts of power supplies and printed circuit assemblies and parts of transformers, $2.9 billion imported;
• 8544.19.00, Insulated winding wire, nesoi (when aluminum), $56 million imported;
• 8544.60.2000 and 8544.60.6000, insulated electric conductors and parts (when aluminum), almost $1.2 billion imported;
• 8708.50.5110, drive axles, $191 million imported;
• 8708.70.45, road wheels of aluminum, almost $3.6 billion imported;
• 8708.91.5000 radiators for vehicles, $1 billion imported;
• 8415.20.00 and 8415.90.80.45, auto air conditioning parts, $11 billion imported; and
• 8507.90.80, parts of electric storage batteries, $3 billion imported.

Nucor, the country's largest steelmaker with 32,000 workers, requested a wide variety of goods be added to the derivatives list (here). It said the original Section 232 action was meant to get the steel industry to 80% utilization, but it's only around 75%. Nucor said U.S. steel shipments and production are also down sharply from before the action. "Domestic steel shipments fell from 83.8 million short tons in 2018 to 75.7 million shorts in 2024, declining faster than the declines in apparent domestic consumption during the same period," it wrote. It said industries that are heavy users of steel, like appliance manufacturers and automakers, are having falling profits.

"Most of the steel derivative articles on this list are comprised predominantly of steel. All of these derivative articles contain a significant percentage of steel as measured by weight and/or cost, with the precise amount varying by product. For example, certain hand tools, heavy equipment, boilers, pumps, and steel racking (and parts of steel racking) are comprised almost entirely of steel. In addition, publicly available reports indicate that, on average, steel consists of up to 75% of the weight of a typical household appliance," it wrote.

Nucor asked for coverage on these HTS subheadings:

8205.59.55; 8302.10.60; 8302.41.30; 8302.41.60; 8302.42.30; 8302.49.60; 8307.10.30; 8403.10.00; 8403.90.00; 8407.21.00; 8407.90.10; 8407.90.90; 8408.20.10; 8408.20.90; 8409.91.50; 8409.91.92; 8409.91.99; 8409.99.91; 8409.99.92; 8409.99.99; 8411.81.80; 8412.21.00; 8412.29.80; 8413.81.00; 8414.30.40; 8414.90.30; 8414.90.41; 8415.10.30; 8415.10.60; 8415.10.90; 8415.81.01; 8415.82.01; 8415.83.00; 8415.90.40; 8415.90.80; 8418.10.00; 8418.21.00; 8418.29.20; 8418.30.00; 8418.40.00; 8419.50.50; 8419.81.50; 8421.29.00; 8422.11.00; 8425.42.00; 8426.20.00; 8426.99.00; 8427.10.40; 8427.10.80; 8427.20.40; 8427.20.80; 8427.90.00; 8428.33.00; 8428.39.00; 8428.60.00; 8428.70.00; 8428.90.03; 8429.11.00; 8429.19.00; 8429.20.00; 8429.30.00; 8429.40.00; 8429.51.10; 8429.51.50; 8429.52.10; 8429.52.50; 8429.59.10; 8429.59.50; 8431.20.00; 8431.39.00; 8431.41.00; 8433.11.00; 8433.20.00; 8433.51.00; 8433.59.00; 8433.90.10; 8433.90.50; 8450.11.00; 8450.20.00; 8451.29.00; 8457.10.00; 8477.10.30; 8477.10.40; 8477.10.90; 8479.89.55; 8479.89.65; 8479.90.45; 8479.90.55; 8479.90.65; 8479.90.75; 8479.90.85; 8479.90.95; 8482.10.50; 8483.10.50; 8483.30.40; 8483.30.80; 8483.40.10; 8483.40.90; 8483.50.60; 8483.50.90; 8483.60.40; 8483.60.80; 8501.53.40; 8501.53.60; 8501.53.80; 8503.00.35; 8503.00.45; 8503.00.65; 8503.00.75; 8503.00.90; 8503.00.95; 8504.23.00; 8504.33.00; 8514.20.40; 8514.20.60; 8516.29.00; 8516.60.40; 8516.60.60; 8601.10.00; 8601.20.00; 8602.10.00; 8602.90.00; 8603.10.00; 8603.90.00; 8604.00.00; 8605.00.00; 8606.10.00; 8606.30.00; 8606.91.00; 8606.92.00; 8606.99.01; 8607.11.00; 8607.19.03; 8607.19.06; 8607.19.12; 8607.19.15; 8607.19.30; 8607.19.90; 8607.21.10; 8607.21.50; 8607.30.10; 8607.30.50; 8607.91.00; 8607.99.10; 8607.99.50; 8609.00.00; 8701.10.01; 8701.21.00; 8701.22.00; 8701.23.00; 8701.24.00; 8701.29.00; 8701.30.10; 8701.30.50; 8701.91.10; 8701.91.50; 8701.92.10; 8701.92.50; 8701.93.10; 8701.93.50; 8701.94.10; 8701.94.50; 8701.95.10; 8701.95.50; 8702.10.31; 8702.10.61; 8703.10.10; 8703.10.50; 8703.21.01; 8704.10.10; 8704.10.50; 8704.22.11; 8704.22.51; 8704.23.01; 8704.32.01; 8704.42.00; 8704.52.00; 8704.90.01; 8705.10.00; 8705.20.00; 8705.40.00; 8705.90.00; 8706.00.30; 8706.00.50; 8708.40.30; 8708.40.60; 8708.40.65; 8708.80.65; 8708.92.10; 8708.92.50; 8708.92.60; 8708.92.65; 8708.92.75; 8708.93.15; 8708.93.30; 8708.95.05; 8709.11.00; 8709.19.00; 8709.90.00; 8710.00.00; 8711.30.00; 8711.50.00; 8711.60.00; 8714.10.00; 8716.10.00; 8716.39.00; 8716.80.10; 8716.80.50; 8716.90.10; 8716.90.30; 8901.10.00; 8901.20.00; 8901.30.00; 8901.90.00; 8905.10.00; 8905.20.00; 8905.90.10; 8905.90.50; 9401.71.00; 9401.79.00; 9403.10.00; 9403.99.10; and 9403.99.90.

Metallus, formerly TimkenSteel Corporation, wrote that the special bar quality steel market in the U.S. fell 36% in the last decade. It said more than $20 billion was imported in the derivative items it's asking to be covered, and that value is up 50% compared with the 2015-2017 average.

It is asking for special bar quality steel and tubes in drill collars, mud motors, heavyweight drill pipe, drill bits, wellheads, swivel joints, couplings, casing and many other applications within the oil and gas industry, all of which are covered by HTS subheading 8431.49.80; parts for agriculture and construction machinery (8483.14.99), bearing parts (8482.99.05 through 8482.99.65 and 8483.30.40 through 8483.30.80), industrial shafts and cranks (8483.10.10 through 8483.10.50), gears and gear box parts; motor rotor shafts, drive pinion shafts, gear parts, hubs, and bearings for various electric vehicle applications (8503.00.35 through 8503.00.95 and 8708.40.75).

In all, it wants coverage for these HTS subheadings: 8431.43.80; 8431.49.90; 8482.99.05; 8482.99.15; 8482.99.25; 8482.99.35; 8482.99.45; 8482.99.65; 8483.10.10; 8483.10.30; 8483.10.50; 8483.20.40; 8483.20.80; 8483.30.40; 8483.30.80; 8483.40.90; 8483.50.60; 8483.60.40; 8483.60.80; 8483.90.20; 8483.90.30; 8483.90.50; 8483.90.70; 8483.90.80; 8503.00.35; 8503.00.65; 8503.00.95; 8708.40.75 (here).

The Committee on Pipe and Tube Imports seeks duties on motorcycle components (8714.10.00), metal office furniture (9403.10.00) and exercise equipment (9506.91.00) (here).

The Bekaert Corporation requested the addition of stranded wire, cables, plaited bands and the like, including slings and similar articles, of aluminum, not electrically insulated, with steel core, not fitted with fittings and not made up into articles (7614.10.10) (here).

Duraloy Technologies seeks tariffs on ethylene pyrolysis coils (8417.90.0000) (here).

Kyocera Senco Industrial Tools requested the addition of steel staples in strips (8305.20.00). Senco has 400 workers, and has previously won an antidumping/countervailing duty case against China and circumvention cases against Thailand and Vietnam for their product (here).

Standard Forged Products seeks to add railcar axles (8607.19.0300), and says steel is 77% of the cost of making the axle (here).

Western Saw requested duties on diamond sawblade cores or diamond cores (8202.39.0040). There was less than $3 million in imports of these blades. Western Saw, which is the only significant producer of diamond sawblade cores left in the U.S., the company said, has fewer than 100 employees (here).

Texas Steel Conversion seeks tariffs on drill pipe fitted with tool joints (8431.43.8040) (here).

Prysmian Cables and Systems USA requested tariffs on stranded wire, cables, plaited bands and the like, including slings and similar articles, of aluminum, not electrically insulated: with steel core: not fitted with fittings and not made up into articles (7614.10.10) (here).

Cleveland-Cliffs asked for tariffs on mufflers and exhaust pipes (8708.92.5000), laminations for incorporation into stacked cores (8504.90.9634), stacked cores for incorporation into transformers (8504.90.9638), wound core parts for incorporation into transformers (8504.90.9642), transformer cores and laminations (8504.90.9534), wound transformer cores (8504.90.9542), and other transformer parts (8504.90.9538) (here) and (here).

Cleveland-Cliffs tried to get transformer cores covered under Section 232 tariffs years ago, and didn't convince the Commerce Department.

Willard Manufacturing asked for tariffs on rebar cutting/bending tools (8203.40.00) (here). It said the cost of steel is half the cost to make the tools, and they are 80% steel by weight.

The Wind Tower Trade Coalition seeks to add wind towers imported as part of an electricity generating set under subheading 8502.31.0000 to the list. About 70% of value is the steel plate (here).

Eastman Kodak asked for tariffs on aluminum lithographic printing plates (3701.30.0000). It already had antidumping cases against Japan and China for the product, but imports continued (here).

The Wire Decking Coalition asked to add welded wire rack, whether or not galvanized, plated or coated (9403.99.9020). The product already has been added to the aluminum derivatives list, but it's actually made of steel, the group said (here).

Cardinal Tool seeks tariffs on vises (8205.70.00). It said there were $172 million in imports in 2022, and steel is 60% of its domestic production cost (here).

McConway & Torley sought tariffs on freight rail couplers (8607.30.1000) (here).

Ingersoll Rand requested tariffs on finished air compressors (8414.80.16). It said there were $1.45 billion in imports in 2024 (here), and that parts for the compressors are already covered. "Because the updated 232 steel and aluminum tariffs do impact imported components of air compressors made of steel and aluminum, they effectively raise costs for domestic manufacturers that rely on imported components for a portion of their US manufacturing," it wrote.

Goldens’ Foundry and Machine Company asked for tariffs on dumbbells and kettlebells (9506.91.00.30) (here).

The Ad Hoc Coalition of Dry Van and Reefer Producers sought tariffs on dry van trailers and refrigerated trailers and subassemblies (8716.39.0040 and 8716.90.5060) (here).

Omega Flex requested the addition to the list of insulated electric conductors and parts, flexible steel hose and pipe (8307.10.60) (here).

Worthington Enterprises filed a number of requests on filled handheld non-refillable steel fuel cylinders (2711.12.0020, 2804.40.0000 and 2901.22.0000) (here), fire extinguishers (8424.10.0000) (here), compressed or liquefied gas filled portable steel cylinders (2804.29.0010, 2903.42.1000, 2903.43.1000, 2903.44.10, 2903.45.1000, 2903.51.1000, 2903.71.0100, 3827.61.0000, 3827.62.0000, 3827.63.0000, 3827.64.0000, and 3827.65.0000) (here), and aluminum forklift cylinders (7613.00.0000) (here).

The North American Die Casting Association filed a series of requests for products to be added to the derivatives lists, as follows:

• Combined refrigerator-freezers with separate external doors (8418.10.00) (here).
• Fully automatic household washing machines with a dry linen capacity of 10 kg or less (8450.11.00) (here)
• Household clothes dryers with a dry linen capacity of 10 kg or less (8451.21.00) (here)
• Chain saws with a self-contained non-electric motor (8467.81.00) (here)
• Other hand-held tools with non-electric motors (typically gas-powered) (e.g., chain saws, leaf blowers and string trimmers) (8467.89.50) (here)
• Electrically powered hand saws (8467.22.00) (here)
• Electrically powered hand tools (corded or cordless) excluding saws and drills (8467.29.00) (here)
• Generating sets with spark-ignition (gasoline) internal combustion engines, typically portable generators (8502.20.00) (here)
• Unmanned aircraft with maximum take-off weight of more than 250 g and up to 7 kg (8806.22.00) (here)
• Unmanned aircraft with maximum take-off weight of more than 7 kg and up to 25 kg (8806.23.00) (here)
• Non-upholstered seats with metal frames (including aluminum (9401.79.00) (here)
• Metal-framed furniture (excluding seats) (9403.20.00) (here).

Gerdau Long Steel North America seeks tariffs on car engines and parts, offshore platform parts, roller bearings and parts, and other car parts like gear boxes, axles and steering wheels (8407.34.18, 8407.34.48, 8409.91.50, 8409.91.50, 8409.91.99, 8409.91.99, 8409.99.91, 8409.99.91, 8431.43.40, 8431.43.40, 8431.43.80, 8431.43.80, 8482.10.50, 8482.20.00, 8482.99.05, 8482.99.15, 8482.99.25, 8483.10.10, 8483.10.30, 8483.90.50, 8483.90.50, 8483.90.50, 8708.40.11, 8708.40.75, 8708.40.75, 8708.50.51, 8708.50.61, 8708.50.65, 8708.50.79, 8708.50.85, 8708.50.89, 8708.50.91, 8708.50.95, 8708.50.99, 8708.94.50, 8708.94.75, 8708.99.58, 8708.99.68, 8708.99.81 and 8708.99.81) (here).

Mark Andy, Inc. requested tariffs on flexographic printing machines (8443.16.0000) (here).

Steel Dynamics asked for the addition to the list of doors, windows of plastics, buckets and pails of plastics, cast ductile iron or steel, fittings, iron or alloy steel (not stainless), not cast, butt welding fittings for tubes/pipes, certain door assemblies for refrigerators or freezers, trucks fitted with lifting or handling equipment, several types of elevators and conveyors, machinery for lifting, handling, loading or unloading, self-propelled tamping machines and road rollers, machinery parts, camshafts and crankshafts, transmission shafts and cranks, gears and gearing, shaft couplings, tractor parts and accessories, suspension systems parts, military tanks, pulleys, elevator and conveyor parts, parts used in oil and gas field machinery, tractor drive axles, drive axles, half-shaft and drive shafts, steering shafts, parts for trailers, under the following HTS subheadings:

3925.20.00, 3926.90.10, 4403.26.01, 7307.19.30, 7307.19.90, 7307.93.90, 8418.99.40, 8427.90.00, 8428.32.00, 8428.33.00, 8428.39.00, 8428.90.03, 8429.40.00, 8431.20.00, 8474.90.00, 8483.10.30, 8483.10.50, 8483.40.90, 8483.50.90, 8483.60.80, 8708.50.65, 8708.80.55, 8708.94.75, 8708.99.23, 8710.00.00, 8431.39.0010, 8431.39.0050, 8483.10.3010, 8483.50.9080, 8708.50.3110, 8708.50.9500, 8708.50.9900, 8708.94.7510 and 8716.90.5060 (here).

Southwire Company asked for the addition of stranded wire, cables, plaited bands and the like, including slings and similar articles, of aluminum, not electrically insulated, with steel core, not fitted with fittings and not made up into articles (7614.10.1000) (here).

DuraTech Processes seeks tariffs on nickel carbide-coated steel barrels (7304.90.00) (here). Chinese imports, 25% cheaper than the company's, have led to lost market share, seven fewer employees in the last 2.5 years, a drop of 21% of the workforce, it said.

Voestalpine Railway Systems Nortrak asked that rail clips, already in the original Section 232 action under 7302.90.9000, be reclassified as a derivative, as it buys clips from Canada made from U.S. steel. If the clips were derivatives, not in the original scope, the company wouldn't have to pay tariffs because the steel was made in the U.S. There are $32 million worth of clips imported annually, 25% from Canada, it said (here).

Sherill Manufacturing sought tariffs on stainless steel flatware (silverware) including knives, forks, spoons and serving pieces as well as stainless-steel flatware plated with precious metals or physical vapor deposition (PVD) coatings (8211.10.00, 8211.91.10, 8211.91.20, 8211.91.25, 8211.91.30, 8211.91.40, 8211.91.50, 8211.91.80, 8211.92.20, 8211.92.40, 8211.92.60, 8211.92.90, 8211.93.00, 8211.94.10, 8211.94.50, 8211.95.10, 8211.95.50, 8211.95.90, 8215.10.00, 8215.20.00, 8215.91.30, 8215.91.60, 8215.91.90, 8215.99.01, 8215.99.05, 8215.99.10, 8215.99.15, 8215.99.20, 8215.99.22, 8215.99.24, 8215.99.26, 8215.99.30, 8215.99.35, 8215.99.40, 8215.99.45 and 8215.99.50) (here).

Alubar Metals Missouri asked for tariffs on aluminum conductors (steel-reinforced and steel-supported) for power transmission and distribution (7614.10.10) (here).

United Rolls requested that steel mill rolls for rolling mills be added to the derivatives list (8455.30.0005, 8455.30.0015, 8455.30.0025, 8455.30.0035, 8455.30.0045, 8455.30.0055, 8455.30.0065, 8455.30.0075, 8455.30.0085, 8455.90.4000 and 8455.90.8000) (here).

The U.S. Chassis Manufacturers Coalition asked for the addition of chassis and chassis parts (8716.39.0090 and 8716.90.5060). The coalition represents Stoughton and Cheetah (here).

The National Aerosol Association asked for tariffs on filled aerosol package products, manufactured with tinplate steel, laminate steel, or aluminum (0402.99.68, 0402.99.70, 0402.99.90, 2106.90.9998, 2710.19.3750, 2903.39.2035, 2903.39.2045, 2903.39.2050, 2903.39.5050, 3004.90.9206, 3004.90.9242, 3004.90.9243, 3208.10.10, 3208.20.00, 3208.90.00, 3208.90.00, 3209.10.00, 3209.90.00, 3213.90.00, 3214.10.00, 3303.00.10, 3303.00.20, 3303.00.30, 3304.30.00, 3304.99.50, 3305.10.00, 3305.30.00, 3305.90.00, 3306.90.00, 3307.10.10, 3307.10.20, 3307.20.00, 3307.49.00, 3307.90.00, 3401.30.10, 3401.30.50, 3402.20.00, 3402.20.51, 3402.31.90, 3402.49.90, 3402.50.11, 3402.50.51, 3402.90.10, 3402.90.30, 3402.90.50, 3403.19.00, 3403.19.10, 3403.19.50, 3403.19.50, 3403.99.00, 3405.10.00, 3405.20.00, 3405.40.00, 3405.90.00, 3405.90.00, 3506.10.50, 3506.91.00, 3506.99.00, 3808.59.10, 3808.59.40, 3808.61.10, 3808.61.20, 3808.62.10, 3808.62.50, 3808.69.10, 3808.69.50, 3808.91.15, 3808.91.25, 3808.91.30, 3808.91.50, 3808.94.10, 3808.94.50, 3809.91.00, 3810.10.00, 3811.19.00, 3811.21.00, 3814.00.10, 3814.00.20, 3814.00.50, 3814.00.5090, 3820.00.00, 3824.78.0000, 3824.78.0020, 3824.78.0020, 3824.99.9297 and 8424.89.00) (here).

Tri-Seal Opco sought tariffs on foil lids, stoppers, and caps (8309.90.0010). Tri-Seal used to import aluminum foil to make these lids under exclusions or quotas, and therefore didn't pay 10% Section 232 aluminum tariffs. With a 25% tariff now in place on aluminum foil, it cannot supply its customers, and there is not enough domestic aluminum foil to supply all buyers, it said (here).

Ellwood Group sought tariffs on a variety of products, as follows (here):

• Parts of dies for drawing or extruding metal (8207.20.0070) ($26.6 million imported in 2024)
• Metal forming dies, including thread-rolling die (8207.30.6062) ($159 million imported in 2024)
• Parts of tools for pressing, stamping or punching (8207.30.6095) ($123 million imported)
• Parts of steam turbines, blades (8406.90.4000) (almost $53 million imported)
• Parts, including regulators, for hydraulic turbines and water wheels (8410.90.0000) (almost $54 million)
• Parts of hydraulic fluid power pumps (8413.91.9060) ($566 million)
• Parts of pumps for liquids (8413.91.9096) (almost $1.7 billion)
• Lifting machinery (8426.99.0000) (almost $50 million)
• Hydraulic backhoes, shovels, clamshells and draglines (8429.52.1010) (almost $4.8 billion)
• Non-hydraulic backhoes, shovels, clamshells and draglines (8429.52.1020) (almost $103 million)
• Offshore oil and natural gas drilling and production platform parts (8431.43.4000) (more than $76 million)
• Ingot molds for steel ingots (8454.20.0010) ($1.4 million)
• Ingot molds for other metal ingots (8454.20.0060) ($7 million)
• Parts for machinery for working rubber or plastics (8477.90.2540 and 8477.90.2580) ($75 million)
• Parts of injection-molding machines (8477.90.8601) ($420 million)
• Rubber and plastics injection molds (8480.71.8045) ($1.4 billion)
• Rubber and plastics compression molds (8480.71.8060) ($187 million)
• Rubber and plastics blow molds (8480.71.8060) ($42 million)
• Camshafts and crankshafts (8483.10.3050) ($327 million)
• Forged gear blanks (8483.90.5010) ($49 million)
• Molds for centrifugal casting of ductile iron pipe (8480.49.0010) ($8 million)
• Parts of nuclear reactors (8401.40.0000) ($8 million)
• Fluid end blocks (8413.91.9055) (no reliable data).

Galt Alloys asked for tariffs on ferrotitanium (7202.91.0000) (here).

Eurotranciatura USA asked for tariffs on assembled stator cores for industrial generators and assembled rotor cores for industrial generators (7614.10.1010, 7614.10.5090). More than 80% of the material cost of these items is non-grain oriented steel, it said (here).

Coalition for a Prosperous America asked for tariffs on cold-formed steel angles, T-sections, and structural framing profiles used in connectors, supports, and light construction applications (7216.91.00.10) (here).