reference·9 min read

Section 232 HTS Codes: National-Security Tariffs Across Six Sectors

Full list of Section 232 Chapter 99 code families by sector, updated for the April 2026 metals restructuring (new 9903.82.* family) and the new pharmaceutical sector (9903.04.*), with HTS tool guidance.

By Paige W.··Updated May 8, 2026

Quick Answer

Section 232 national-security tariffs span multiple Chapter 99 families organized by sector. As of April 6, 2026, the steel, aluminum, and copper regime was restructured into a new 9903.82.* family (replacing the old 9903.80.*, 9903.81.*, 9903.85.*, and 9903.78.* families for entries on or after that date). A May 2026 technical correction added 9903.82.01 as a zero-additional-duty heading for listed articles that do not contain aluminum, steel, or copper. A pharmaceutical sector (9903.04.*) was added by proclamation on April 2, 2026, with tariffs effective July 31–September 29, 2026. The four unchanged sectors remain: autos and auto parts (9903.94.*), medium- and heavy-duty vehicles (9903.74.*), timber/lumber (9903.76.*), and semiconductors (9903.79.*). The authority comes from the Trade Expansion Act of 1962.

Informational only — not legal advice.

Section 232 started as steel and aluminum tariffs. It is now a six-sector national-security duty program spanning hundreds of Chapter 99 codes — and the code families themselves changed in April 2026.

The steel, aluminum, and copper sectors were restructured into a new 9903.82.* family effective April 6, 2026, replacing the old 9903.80.*, 9903.81.*, 9903.85.*, and 9903.78.* families for goods entered on or after that date. Pharmaceuticals were added as a new sector (9903.04.*) with tariffs effective July 31–September 29, 2026.

If your entry shows a 9903.04, 9903.74, 9903.76, 9903.79, 9903.82, or 9903.94 code, it is almost certainly a Section 232 line. If your entry predates April 6, 2026 and shows a 9903.78, 9903.80, 9903.81, or 9903.85 code, those were the operative metals families before the restructuring.

Background on Section 232

Section 232 comes from the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. It allows the president to adjust imports after a Commerce Department investigation finds that a class of imports threatens to impair U.S. national security.

Steel and aluminum were first (2018). Since then, successive Commerce Department investigations and presidential proclamations have added autos, auto parts, heavy vehicles, copper, timber, and semiconductors — and in April 2026, pharmaceuticals. Each sector has its own code sub-family, its own proclamation chain, and in some cases its own exception or exclusion mechanics.

Current status

As of May 8, 2026, the active Section 232 sectors are:

SectorCode familyNotes
Steel, aluminum, copper (restructured)9903.82.*Effective April 6, 2026; 9903.82.01 added by technical correction
Pharmaceuticals and APIs9903.04.*Proclaimed April 2; effective July 31 / Sept 29, 2026
Autos and auto parts9903.94.*Unchanged
Medium/heavy-duty vehicles, buses9903.74.*Unchanged
Timber / lumber9903.76.*Unchanged
Semiconductors + derivatives9903.79.*Unchanged

For entries before April 6, 2026, the operative metals families were: steel articles (9903.80.*–9903.81.*), aluminum (9903.85.*), and copper (9903.78.*). Two aluminum codes (9903.85.67, 9903.85.68) continue to apply for Russian-origin aluminum after April 6.

How to use this page with our HTS tool

  1. Click the exact 9903.* code from the entry.
  2. In the HTS tool, confirm the code family and sector.
  3. Compare it with the base Chapter 1-97 classification and any other Chapter 99 overlays on the same line.
  4. If the entry shows a supposed Section 232 exception line on an IEEPA or Section 122 entry, use the tool to confirm whether it is an actual 232 code or a reciprocal-program carveout that only references 232.

Metals code families changed April 6, 2026

Entries on or after April 6, 2026 use 9903.82.* for steel, aluminum, and copper. The old families — 9903.80.*, 9903.81.*, 9903.85.*, and 9903.78.* — are legacy and apply only to entries before that date (except 9903.85.67 and 9903.85.68, which continue for Russian-origin aluminum).

Section 232 is a family of families

Some programs outside Section 232 (like IEEPA and Section 122) reference Section 232 goods as carveouts. A carveout heading that mentions 232 is not itself a 232 code. Use the HTS tool to confirm the code family before treating it as a 232 duty.

Full Section 232 code list

Restructured metals (steel, aluminum, copper) — effective April 6, 2026

Proclaimed April 2, 2026 (91 FR 18201, doc. 2026-06960); effective April 6, 2026. Replaces the prior steel, aluminum, and copper code families for entries on or after that date. Rate (for entries on or after April 6, 2026): 50% on full customs value for general covered articles, except where a specific lower-rate or zero-rate heading applies. Pre-April-6 entries used the older 9903.78.*/9903.80.*/9903.81.*/9903.85.* families with their then-current rates. Implementation guidance: CBP CSMS #68253075. USITC 2026 HTS Revision 7 and CBP CSMS #68554727 added 9903.82.01 for articles listed in Note 16(c) that do not contain aluminum, steel, or copper.

Pharmaceuticals and APIs — effective July 31 / September 29, 2026

Proclaimed April 2, 2026 (91 FR, doc. 2026-06956). Covers patented pharmaceuticals and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in Chapters 29 and 30. Generic pharmaceuticals are excluded. Default rate: 100%. Tariffs are not yet being collected as of the May 8 review because the effective dates remain July 31 and September 29, 2026.

Medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, parts, buses

Timber / lumber / wood derivatives

Autos and auto parts

Legacy: steel articles and steel derivatives (entries before April 6, 2026)

These codes were operative for entries before April 6, 2026. For goods entered on or after April 6, 2026, use 9903.82.* instead.

Legacy: aluminum articles and aluminum derivatives (entries before April 6, 2026)

These codes were operative for entries before April 6, 2026. For goods entered on or after April 6, 2026, use 9903.82.* instead. Exception: 9903.85.67 and 9903.85.68 continue to apply for Russian-origin aluminum after April 6, 2026.

Legacy: copper (entries before April 6, 2026)

These codes were operative for entries before April 6, 2026. For goods entered on or after April 6, 2026, copper is included within the restructured 9903.82.* family.

Common confusions

  • Section 232 is not limited to steel and aluminum anymore.
  • The metals code families changed in April 2026. Entries on or after April 6, 2026 use 9903.82.*. Entries before that date used 9903.80.*, 9903.81.*, 9903.85.*, or 9903.78.*. Do not apply the new rate structure or code family to pre-April 6 entries.
  • Pharma codes (9903.04.*) were proclaimed April 2, 2026, but tariffs are not yet being collected as of May 8, 2026. Effective dates remain July 31 and September 29, 2026.
  • Some programs outside Section 232 reference Section 232 goods as carveouts. That does not make those carveout headings themselves 232 codes.
  • Reporting obligations and duty outcomes are not always the same thing. Some 232-related classifications can carry special reporting obligations even where duty is zero.

Related

Sources & Verification

Last verified: 2026-05-08

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Informational only — not legal advice. RefundArrow is not a law firm, and this resource does not create an attorney‑client relationship with Himmelstein & Adkins, LLC. Tariff/refund outcomes depend on your facts, entry records, and evolving CBP/court guidance; consult qualified customs counsel for advice on your situation.

Section 232 HTS Codes: National-Security Tariffs Across Six Sectors | RefundArrow