All Section 232 Tariffs in 2025 Explained

In 2025, Section 232 has found renewed force as one of the most frequently used tariff tools in U.S. policy. It has shifted from a narrow trade measure into a broad instrument for protecting and rebuilding critical industries. The administration has relied on it to tighten control over strategic supply chains and reduce dependence on foreign manufacturing. As a result, Section 232 now shapes some of the most important industrial and economic decisions of the year.

Here are the items on which Section 232 has been imposed in 2025, each reshaping a different part of the U.S. industrial and supply chain landscape. Before we delve into that list, let’s first understand what Section 232 is.

Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 allows the president to restrict imports if the Department of Commerce determines that those imports threaten to impair national security. While the law was originally applied to defense-critical inputs, its scope has expanded as national security has come to include economic stability, industrial capacity, and supply chain reliability. Once a Commerce investigation finds a national security risk, the president can impose tariffs, quotas, or other restrictions without Congressional approval.

Let’s now move on to the list.

Steel was the first major category strengthened under Section 232 in 2025. The administration said that global overcapacity, especially from heavily subsidized producers, continued to hurt the U.S. steel industry. While steel tariffs had been in place since 2018, many exemptions over the years had weakened their impact. To address this, the government reinstated a universal 25 percent tariff on all steel imports early in the year and then raised it to 50 percent in June. The goal was to support domestic steelmaking and ensure a reliable supply for defense, infrastructure, and major construction needs.

The updated tariffs apply to almost all steel mill products, including flat-rolled steel, long products, slabs, billets, pipes, tubes, wire rod, and stainless steel. Only a few countries received limited relief, such as the United Kingdom, which was granted a quota instead of a full exemption. For nearly every other country, the full 50 percent tariff now applies.

Aluminum also had a similar story in 2025. The administration argued that global oversupply and growing reliance on foreign smelters had weakened the U.S. aluminum industry and threatened its ability to support key sectors. Aluminum is essential for aerospace, defense, automotive manufacturing, packaging, and the fast-expanding clean energy sector. Early in the year, the government reinstated a universal 25 percent tariff on aluminum imports, and by mid-2025, this rate was raised to 50 percent to match the new steel tariff level. The administration said the U.S. aluminum sector had not recovered from years of low-priced imports and needed stronger protection to ensure long-term stability.

The tariff applies to most aluminum products, including plate, sheet, foil, extrusions, rod, wire, castings, and forgings.

In March 2025, the administration imposed Section 232 tariffs on imported automobiles after concluding that the U.S. vehicle manufacturing base had become too dependent on foreign production. The government argued that rising imports, combined with more automakers shifting assembly to lower-cost countries, weakened long-term domestic capacity. Because cars, EVs, and batteries are now seen as part of the country’s strategic and technological strength, the administration set a 25 percent tariff.

The tariff took effect on April 3, 2025, and applies to most countries, though Canada and Mexico received limited relief under USMCA due to their deeply integrated supply chains. Even then, the relief is not automatic—vehicles must meet strict rules-of-origin requirements to qualify. For global automakers, the tariff has accelerated decisions to expand or shift production into the United States and Mexico to avoid the 25 percent rate.

In addition to finished vehicles, the administration also extended Section 232 to a selected group of auto parts deemed essential to domestic vehicle production. These include engines, transmissions, key drivetrain systems, and advanced electronic components. The tariff on these parts was set at 25 percent and took effect on May 3, 2025.

Copper became part of the Section 232 regime in July 2025, making it one of the clearest examples of national security expanding into energy and advanced technology supply chains. Copper is essential for electrification and is used in power grids, EV motors, charging systems, data centers, renewable energy equipment, and semiconductor manufacturing.

The administration argued that the U.S. had become too dependent on imported semi-finished copper products—such as rods, sheets, plates, bars, wires, pipes, and tubes—which are critical to these systems. To reduce this dependence, the government imposed a 50 percent tariff on semi-finished copper products and copper-intensive components, effective August 1, 2025.

It is important to note that the tariff does not apply to raw copper materials like ores, concentrates, cathodes, or scrap. These inputs were excluded to avoid disrupting global commodity flows and to ensure that domestic smelters and fabricators could still source the raw material they need. The tariff instead targets the higher-value products that feed directly into U.S. industrial and electrical applications.

Timber and lumber became another key focus of Section 232 in 2025. The administration argued that the U.S. had become overly dependent on foreign wood products, even though timber is essential for housing, infrastructure, and emergency response. The U.S. imposed a 10 percent tariff on imported softwood logs, sawn timber, and lumber beginning October 14, 2025, to strengthen domestic production and reduce exposure to external disruptions.

It is worth noting that Canada supplies most of the softwood lumber used in the United States, which means the new tariff affects Canadian shipments more than those from any other country. According to the National Association of Home Builders, in 2024, Canadian softwood lumber exports to the U.S. totaled about US$5.1 billion.

In addition to raw timber and lumber, the administration used Section 232 to target finished wood products, including upholstered furniture, kitchen cabinets, and bathroom vanities. These categories have long been dominated by imports, putting steady pressure on U.S. manufacturers. The Section 232 investigation concluded that the decline in domestic furniture-frame and cabinet production weakened economic resilience and left the country too dependent on foreign suppliers for essential household and institutional goods.

Based on these findings, the U.S. imposed a 25 percent tariff on these products beginning October 14, 2025, with increases scheduled to reach 30 percent for furniture and 50 percent for cabinets on January 1, 2026.

Medium- and heavy-duty vehicles became another focus of Section 232 as the year progressed. The administration argued that these trucks are essential to the country’s logistics and industrial movement, supporting everything from supply chains and construction to agriculture, defense operations, and emergency response. The investigation found that growing imports threatened domestic production capacity and could limit the country’s ability to respond effectively during crises. Based on these findings, the U.S. imposed a 25 percent tariff on imported medium- and heavy-duty trucks, effective November 1, 2025.

The tariffs directly target imports from major suppliers such as Mexico, Canada, Japan, Germany, and Finland, which together account for most U.S. truck imports. Mexico — the largest exporter — has seen its shipments grow sharply, nearly tripling since 2019 to around 340,000 vehicles, according to government data

Buses became the final category added under Section 232 in 2025. The administration argued that school buses, public transit buses, and motor coaches are essential to the country’s transportation network and emergency-response capability. Imports had risen in recent years, especially in segments where U.S. manufacturers hold a smaller share of the market. The Section 232 investigation found that this trend could weaken the nation’s ability to maintain and expand these fleets, leading the government to impose a 10 percent tariff on imported buses beginning November 1, 2025.

Looking ahead, the government has hinted that more products could be reviewed under Section 232 in the future. Areas like critical minerals, clean-energy components, semiconductors, and medical equipment are being watched closely because the U.S. relies heavily on foreign suppliers. Nothing has been formally announced, but the message is clear: if an industry is important for national security or long-term supply chain stability, it could be considered for a Section 232 action down the road.