What's the Tariff on Steel (Hot-Rolled)?
All imported steel under Section 232 with no exemptions.
Current Tariff Rate
25%
Pre-2025 Rate
0%
Rate Increase
+25pp
Price Impact
+25%
+$188
Real-World Price Impact
Before Tariffs
$750
1 ton HR coil
After Tariffs
$938
1 ton HR coil
That's $188 more per unit — a 25% price increase paid by the American buyer.
Note: Price estimates assume full tariff pass-through to consumers. Actual retail prices may vary — manufacturers may absorb some costs, shift production, or adjust margins.
The Story Behind This Tariff
Steel tariffs are the original modern trade war weapon — Section 232 steel duties from 2018 were the opening salvo that escalated into the current tariff regime. Hot-rolled steel coil, the most basic steel product, now faces 25% duties with zero exemptions after the 2025 removal of all country exclusions (previously Canada, Mexico, EU, Japan, and others had negotiated quota-based exemptions). The tariff has demonstrably reshaped the US steel industry: domestic capacity utilization rose from 72% to 82%, and new EAF (electric arc furnace) mini-mills opened in several states. However, the cost has been borne by downstream manufacturers — auto, appliance, construction, and machinery industries pay $10-15B annually in excess steel costs. The removal of Canadian and EU exemptions in 2025 is the most significant escalation, as these allies provided 40% of US steel imports under negotiated arrangements.
📦 Supply Chain
Primary Origin
CA
Made in USA
72%
Import Volume
$30.2B
Alternatives
Domestic EAF mills expanding rapidly
📅 Tariff Timeline
2002
Bush Section 201 safeguard on steel
30%2018
Trump Section 232 tariff on all steel imports
25%2022
Biden negotiates EU/UK quota-based exemptions
0-25% (quota)2025
All exemptions removed — universal 25%
25%👥 Consumer Impact
Households Affected
130M
Annual Cost Per Household
$155
💡 Did You Know?
- •The 2018 steel tariff was justified on 'national security' grounds — the same law used to restrict uranium imports during the Cold War
- •US Steel, once the world's largest company, now produces less steel than Nucor, a mini-mill operator founded in 1966
- •Steel tariffs cost downstream industries $10-15B annually but support roughly 80,000 steelworker jobs
Tariff Details
- HTS Code
- 7208.37
- Current Rate
- 25%
- Pre-2025 Rate
- 0%
- Tariff Type
- Section 232
Legal Authority
Section 232 (National Security)
Effective: Various (2018-2025)
Tariffs on imports deemed a threat to national security
The tariff on Steel (Hot-Rolled) is paid by the American importer at the port of entry and passed through to consumers as higher retail prices. The foreign manufacturer does not pay the tariff.
Who Actually Pays This Tariff?
Despite claims that tariffs are paid by foreign countries, the 25% tariff on Steel (Hot-Rolled) is paid by American importers — US companies that purchase these goods from abroad. The cost is then passed to American consumers through higher retail prices.
- ✓ The foreign seller receives the same price as before
- ✓ The US importer pays 25% of the customs value to CBP
- ✓ The retailer marks up the higher landed cost
- ✓ You pay more at the register: $750 → $938
Related Products in Industrial
Aluminum (Unwrought)
25%
1 ton aluminum: $2,400 → $3,000
Semiconductors
50%
Chip batch (1000 units): $5,000 → $7,500
Copper Wire
25%
1000 ft copper wire: $350 → $438
Lithium-Ion Batteries
54%
EV battery pack: $8,000 → $12,320
Solar Panels
54%
10 kW system: $15,000 → $23,100
Industrial Machinery
10%
CNC machine: $85,000 → $93,500
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