Is Section 232 just steel and aluminum?

No. As of March 2026, the Section 232 national-security tariff program under the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 covers at least seven sectors: steel, aluminum, autos and auto parts, copper, timber and lumber, semiconductors, and medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. The program has grown through successive Commerce Department investigations and presidential proclamations.

What HTS codes are part of Section 232?

Section 232 spans multiple Chapter 99 families organized by sector: 9903.80.*-9903.81.* for steel, 9903.85.* for aluminum, 9903.94.* for autos, 9903.74.* for heavy vehicles, 9903.76.* for timber, 9903.78.* for copper, and 9903.79.* for semiconductors. Each sector has its own sub-family with distinct code ranges.

reference·5 min read

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

Full list of Section 232 Chapter 99 code families by sector, covering steel, aluminum, autos, copper, timber, semiconductors, and heavy vehicles, with HTS tool guidance.

By Paige W.·March 16, 2026·Updated March 16, 2026

Quick Answer

Section 232 national-security tariffs span multiple Chapter 99 families organized by sector: steel (9903.80.*-81.*), aluminum (9903.85.*), autos and auto parts (9903.94.*), medium- and heavy-duty vehicles (9903.74.*), timber/lumber (9903.76.*), copper (9903.78.*), and semiconductors (9903.79.*). The authority comes from the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, which allows the president to adjust imports after a Commerce Department investigation finds that a class of imports threatens to impair U.S. national security.

Informational only — not legal advice.

This page is the evergreen code reference for the Section 232 national-security tariff families.

The most important structural point is that Section 232 is not one small steel/aluminum code bucket anymore. In the current schedule, it is a multi-sector Chapter 99 family. That is why this page is grouped by sector and sub-family.

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.

Most people learned Section 232 through the steel and aluminum tariffs, but the authority is broader than that. Once sector-specific investigations, proclamations, and derivative-product expansions accumulate, the HTS footprint becomes a large multi-family Chapter 99 universe. That is why this page treats 232 as a set of sector families rather than one simple “steel tariff” list.

Current status

As of March 16, 2026, Section 232 remains an active multi-sector duty lane. The current schedule includes at least:

steel articles and derivatives
aluminum articles and derivatives
autos and auto parts
medium- and heavy-duty vehicles and buses
copper
timber / lumber
semiconductors and related derivatives

That means a search-intent page for Section 232 HTS codes should not teach “232 = steel and aluminum only.”

How to use this page with our HTS tool

Click the exact 9903.* code from the entry.
In the HTS tool, confirm the code family and sector.
Compare it with the base Chapter 1-97 classification and any other Chapter 99 overlays on the same line.
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.

Section 232 is a family of families

This page groups Section 232 by sector because that is how the current code universe works. Treating 232 as one flat list is possible, but not very useful for the importer trying to understand why a given code exists.

Full Section 232 code list

Common confusions

Section 232 is not limited to steel and aluminum anymore.
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.

Sources & Verification

Last verified: 2026-03-16

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section-232 hts chapter-99 9903 hts-tool tariffs reference

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.