United States Revises Section 232 Steel And Aluminum Tariff Exclusions Process

On May 17, the U.S. Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) published a final rule that revises the Section 232 exclusions process for steel and aluminum imports. The department said the changes, which will take effect July 1, 2024, aim to refine the framework under which exclusions can be requested, ensuring a fairer, more transparent process.

Specifically, the revisions remove 12 General Approved Exclusions (GAEs), six for steel and six for aluminum. They are:

• Steel:24.S: 7211296080; GAE.43.S: 7209900000; GAE.46.S: 7216330090; GAE.84.S: 7209270000; GAE.90.S: 7216100010; and GAE.93.S: 7208380015.
• Aluminum: 1.A: 7609000000; GAE.4.A: 7604210010; GAE.5.A: 7604291010; GAE.9.A: 7601209080; GAE.10.A: 7607116010; and GAE.13.A: 7604295090.

The final rule makes no changes to the other 81 GAEs.

The GAEs were originally established to streamline the exclusions process for products that are consistently found not to be produced in sufficient quantity or quality within the United States. The BIS said, “Reversing previous exemptions that facilitated imports of these metals aims to strengthen our U.S. industrial base and our national security by reducing reliance on foreign manufacturing and enhancing domestic production of steel and aluminum.”

Additional general information on the Section 232 exclusions process for steel and aluminum imports, including past regulations and related materials, is available here. Read the final rule refining the process here.