Construction tariff calculator.Section 232, Section 301 — know your landed cost.

Section 232 is a national security tariff authority established under the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. It allows the president to restrict imports that threaten national security. In 2018, the first Trump administration invoked Section 232 to impose 25% tariffs on all imported steel and 10% tariffs on imported aluminum from most countries. In June 2025, both rates were doubled to 50% for nearly all trading partners, citing continued decline of domestic mill capacity. For construction, this is the single most significant tariff measure — it applies to virtually all structural steel, rebar, pipe, plate, sheet, tube, and aluminum products. Unlike normal trade duties, Section 232 applies to nearly all countries including US treaty partners such as Canada and the EU.

Under Section 232, all imported structural steel and aluminum products face a 50% tariff from most countries — raised from 25% in June 2025. This includes hot-rolled coil and plate, wide-flange beams and columns, rebar and wire rod, steel pipe and tube, steel decking, steel studs, steel angles and channels, steel electrical conduit (EMT), and all aluminum sheet, plate, extrusions, and aluminum conduit. On top of that, the Section 301 forced-labor surcharge (effective July 24, 2026) adds 12.5% for most countries — so steel and aluminum from most origins land at roughly 62.5% (60% from the 10%-tier economies such as India). Chinese-origin steel and aluminum add a further 25% Section 301 tariff — bringing the effective rate to about 87.5%. Other Chinese-origin construction goods including copper wire, copper pipe, switchgear, panel boards, HVAC equipment, PVC pipe, OSB, plywood, glass, and ceramic tile face 25% Section 301 plus the 12.5% forced-labor surcharge (~37.5% combined).

The April 2025 IEEPA "reciprocal" tariffs were struck down by the Supreme Court in February 2026 and replaced with a temporary 10% Section 122 import surcharge (effective Feb 24, 2026). Section 122's 150-day authority ran out on July 24, 2026, and because extending it requires an Act of Congress, the surcharge expired by operation of law. The same moment, USTR's Section 301 forced-labor action took effect: additional duties on the products of 60 economies (roughly 99% of US imports) — 12.5% for most, and 10% for the 17 economies that ban imports produced with forced labor (including India, the UK, Canada, and Mexico). Like Section 122 before it, the new surcharge applies as a separate line item and stacks on top of base MFN duties, Section 232, and existing Section 301 tariffs — and goods entered duty-free under USMCA (Canada and Mexico) are fully exempt. For Chinese-origin steel that means roughly 50% Section 232 + 25% Section 301 + 12.5% forced-labor surcharge ≈ 87.5% effective duty, before any AD/CVD measures. Because these measures are subject to ongoing legal and legislative changes, always confirm the active rate with your customs broker before quoting.

Yes, and this surprises many contractors. Despite USMCA replacing NAFTA, Canada is fully subject to Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum — 50% on both as of June 2025. USMCA does not override Section 232 because those tariffs are imposed under a separate national security authority, not under normal trade law. Canadian softwood lumber is additionally subject to anti-dumping and countervailing duties averaging 14.5% that have been in place since 2017 and are separate from USMCA. The practical upshot: if your material is imported from Canada, steel and aluminum carry a 50% Section 232 tariff, and lumber carries an additional 14.5% AD/CVD duty on top.

USMCA exemptions apply to goods that meet specific rules-of-origin requirements — generally meaning the product was substantially manufactured in the US, Canada, or Mexico. For most general merchandise, USMCA eliminates tariffs between the three countries. However, USMCA provides no relief from Section 232 steel and aluminum tariffs, Section 301 China tariffs (which apply regardless of country of transit), or AD/CVD duties on lumber. The exemption is most useful for construction materials that are neither steel, aluminum, nor subject to AD/CVD — such as some electrical components, mechanical equipment, or specialty materials where the goods genuinely originate in Canada or Mexico. Always verify rules-of-origin carefully; simply purchasing through a Canadian distributor does not make a Chinese-made product USMCA-eligible.

HTS stands for Harmonized Tariff Schedule. It is a 10-digit numerical classification system used by US Customs and Border Protection to categorize every imported good. The first 6 digits are internationally standardized under the global Harmonized System (HS) and are the same across most countries. The last 4 digits are US-specific and determine the precise duty rate. To find the correct HTS code, start with the USITC HTS Search at hts.usitc.gov, or use the search tool on this page for common construction materials. Correct HTS classification is critical — misclassification can result in underpaid or overpaid duties, CBP penalties, or delays at the border. For large orders, a licensed customs broker should confirm the classification.

Yes. Trueleveler's Contract Review engine analyzes construction contracts, subcontracts, and purchase orders and flags tariff-related language gaps in seconds. It identifies missing tariff escalation clauses, subcontractor agreements that don't address duty exposure, fixed-price supplier terms that leave you holding the bag if tariffs increase, and references to imported materials without appropriate contingency language. The engine highlights these gaps with suggested clause improvements so you can negotiate better terms before signing. Tariff exposure is one of the most commonly missed risks in construction contracts — Trueleveler makes it visible before it becomes a budget problem.