Section 232 is a mechanism under the Trade Expansion Act of 1962
that allows the U.S. government to evaluate the effect of imports
on national security. On February 16, the United States Department
of Commerce ("Commerce") published Section 232 reports
detailing its findings pertaining to steel and aluminum imports.
The reports identified a national security threat posed by the
importation of certain steel mill products, as well as certain
wrought and unwrought aluminum, and recommended the imposition of a
24 percent duty on imported steel and a 7.7 percent duty on
imported aluminum.
President Trump responded on March 1, announcing the
Administration's plan to impose a 25 percent tariff on the
steel products and a 10 percent tariff on the aluminum products
identified in the reports, and issued proclamations to implement
these duties on March 8, 2018. The duties are set to apply to steel
and aluminum that is entered or withdrawn from warehouse for
consumption
