More appliances added to downstream S232 tariff list

Some were critical of President Trump when, in his first term, he only applied S232 tariffs to steel and aluminum imports, leaving downstream products out in the cold.

The president is attempting to correct that mishap in his second go-round.

Just after Trump returned to office earlier this year, derivative items were added to the list of steel and aluminum products covered by the S232 tariffs. They began at 25% in March. Earlier this month, Trump raised them to 50%.

For steel, the derivative items included were stoves, ranges, grills, butt weld fittings, containers, tanks, drums, nails, grinding balls, sewing needles, barbed wire, structurals, elevators, metal furniture, modular buildings, and electrical conduit tubing.

What’s new

The administration thought that wasn’t enough and is adding more appliances to the list.

On Monday, the Commerce Department’s Industry and Security Bureau (ISB) revealed the additional derivative imports whose steel content will be subject to a 50% tariff:

• combined refrigerator-freezers (HTSUS subheading 8418.10.00)
• small and large dryers (8451.21.00 and 8451.29.00)
• washing machines (8450.11.00 and 8450.20.00)
• dishwashers (8422.11.00)
• chest and upright freezers (8418.30.00 and 8418.40.00)
• cooking stoves, ranges, and ovens (8516.60.40)
• food waste disposals (8509.80.20)
• welded wire rack (9403.99.9020)

Effective June 23, the higher duty applies to derivative imports from all countries. (That is, except for the United Kingdom, whose S232 tariff rate remains 25%, thanks to a deal struck last month.)

US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) provided importers with updated guidance and reporting requirements earlier this month. Those can be found here for steel and here for aluminum.

Importers are required to report where the steel or aluminum used in the derivative products was originally melted and poured.

The S232 tariff will apply only to the steel and aluminum content of items. But CBP said the non-steel content will still be subject to reciprocal tariffs.

Any imports whose steel was made in the USA are excluded from the S232 duty.