What's the Tariff on Uranium?
Uranium exempt from current tariff actions.
Current Tariff Rate
0%
Pre-2025 Rate
0%
Rate Increase
+0pp
Price Impact
+0%
+$0
Real-World Price Impact
Before Tariffs
$85
1 lb U3O8
After Tariffs
$85
1 lb U3O8
That's $0 more per unit — a 0% 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
Uranium's exemption from the 2025 tariff wave reflects its unique status at the intersection of energy security and nuclear nonproliferation. The US is the world's largest consumer of uranium — 93 commercial nuclear reactors require roughly 40 million pounds annually — but domestic production has collapsed to under 1 million pounds, a 97% import dependency. Kazakhstan, Canada, and Australia supply the bulk of US uranium, with Russia's Rosatom enrichment services handling a significant share of fuel processing. The exemption is pragmatic: tariffing uranium would raise electricity costs for the 20% of Americans powered by nuclear energy and potentially disrupt fuel supply for reactors that cannot simply switch sources mid-cycle. The 2024 ban on Russian uranium imports (HAFTA Act) already strained supply chains. Additional tariffs could push utilities toward coal or gas, undermining both energy security and climate goals. Congress quietly ensured uranium stayed off every tariff list.
📦 Supply Chain
Primary Origin
Kazakhstan
Made in USA
3%
Import Volume
.9B
Alternatives
Canada (Cameco), Australia, Namibia
📅 Tariff Timeline
1992
Russian Suspension Agreement limits uranium imports post-Cold War
Quota2019
Section 232 uranium investigation — tariffs rejected
0%2024
HAFTA Act bans Russian enriched uranium imports
Ban2025
Uranium exempted from all IEEPA and Section 122 actions
0%👥 Consumer Impact
Households Affected
0M
Annual Cost Per Household
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💡 Did You Know?
- •The US has 93 nuclear reactors requiring 40 million pounds of uranium annually but produces less than 1 million pounds domestically
- •A single uranium fuel pellet the size of a pencil eraser contains as much energy as 17,000 cubic feet of natural gas
- •Russia enriches roughly 24% of global uranium fuel supply — the 2024 import ban created a scramble for alternative enrichment capacity
Tariff Details
- HTS Code
- 2844.10
- Current Rate
- 0%
- Pre-2025 Rate
- 0%
- Tariff Type
- Exempt
Legal Authority
Exempt
Effective: 2025
Tariff imposed under presidential trade authority
The tariff on Uranium 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 0% tariff on Uranium 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 0% of the customs value to CBP
- ✓ The retailer marks up the higher landed cost
- ✓ You pay more at the register: $85 → $85
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