How to use the Section 232 exposure calculator

The Section 232 exposure calculator at /tariffwatch/checker turns a Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) code and a shipment quantity into an estimated added-tariff cost under the current Section 232 metals regime. This guide walks how to use it, what the resulting number does and does not include, and how to translate the estimate into a real purchasing decision without over-reading a modeled figure as a legal or accounting result.

Step 1: Enter your HTS code

Type or paste the 10-digit HTS code from your commercial invoice or purchase order. If you only have a 6-digit HS code from an overseas supplier, use the first 6 digits, the calculator will surface the most common 10-digit sub-headings under that 6-digit prefix and let you pick the right one. HTS codes are the canonical reference for tariff-classification decisions and are maintained in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule, with public reference material at CBP's classification resources. If you are importing a mixed shipment with multiple HTS codes, run the calculator once per HTS code rather than averaging them together, Section 232 rates vary meaningfully by sub-heading, and an averaged answer can obscure a real exposure spike on one line item.

Step 2: Enter shipment quantity and unit

Enter the quantity in the unit your commercial invoice uses (kilograms is most common for metals; some HTS codes require metric tons instead). The calculator normalizes to metric tons internally, so entering 1,000 kg or 1 metric ton produces the same result. Enter the actual landed quantity, not the volumetric or ordered quantity, since the tariff applies to physical quantity crossing the border, not to what was ordered.

Step 3: Read the estimated added-tariff line

The result panel shows the current base Section 232 rate for your HTS code, any active country-of-origin adjustment (some countries have negotiated exemptions or quotas documented in the Bureau of Industry and Security's Section 232 tariff proceedings on federalregister.gov), and the resulting added tariff in dollars. This number is the incremental Section 232 exposure, it is not the total duty on the shipment, which also includes MFN base rates, Section 301 tariffs where applicable, and merchandise processing fees. The official Section 232 tariff proclamations published on federalregister.gov are the authoritative source for the current rate list; TariffWatch synchronizes daily against those proclamations so the calculator reflects the rate in effect on the date you run it.

Step 4: Understand what the number includes and excludes

The estimate includes: the Section 232 ad valorem rate applied to the CIF value of your shipment, the country-of-origin adjustment if one applies to your supplier's country, and any historical product-specific exclusion status if the HTS code was granted an exclusion on the BIS portal before that portal became read-only on Feb 10, 2025 (no new exclusions have been issued since). It excludes: the underlying MFN rate that would apply regardless of Section 232, Section 301 China-origin tariffs (a separate program with its own HTS-code coverage list documented at USTR's Section 301 investigation page on ustr.gov), Merchandise Processing Fee and Harbor Maintenance Fee, and any state-level or importer-broker fees. To get a total landed-cost figure, add these excluded items to the Section 232 estimate.

Step 5: Save or share the exposure snapshot

Click "Save snapshot" to store the calculation with a timestamp. Section 232 rates change on scheduled review dates published in the Federal Register, so a saved snapshot lets you compare today's exposure against tomorrow's if a proclamation changes mid-quarter. Shared snapshots include a shareable URL that reproduces the exact input and result, useful for sending to a customs broker, a purchasing counterpart, or a comment-letter drafter who needs to reference specific dollar exposure figures.

When to file a comment letter based on your result

If your exposure is material relative to your annual metals purchasing (a common threshold is 3% of annual COGS), your business is a directly-affected party in any active Section 232 rulemaking. Directly-affected parties have standing to file comment letters during Federal Register open comment windows, and those comments are read into the administrative record considered by the Bureau of Industry and Security when adjusting rates. See our Section 232 tools overview for the comment-letter templates and open-comment windows currently tracked.

What the calculator does not do

The exposure calculator is a decision-support tool, not a customs broker or a tariff-classification service. It does not confirm your HTS code is the correct one for your specific product (that is a classification decision requiring physical inspection and often a binding ruling request), it does not file entries with CBP, and it does not substitute for a licensed customs broker's landed-cost estimate. For a bindable classification, request a ruling through CBP's electronic ruling system.

Was this helpful?

Yes / No

Related articles

TariffWatch product home

Amazon FBA CPSC eFiling walkthrough

How to cancel your subscription

FAQ

Does the calculator support all Section 232 metals HTS codes? Yes, every HTS code currently within scope of an active Section 232 proclamation is covered, and the calculator returns a clear "not in scope" result for codes outside the program.

How often does the tariff rate data refresh? Daily, synchronized against Federal Register publications. Rate changes typically take effect on the specific date named in the proclamation, and the calculator reflects the effective-date rate on the day you run it.

Can I use this for retroactive tariff impact analysis? No. The calculator returns the current rate as of today. For a historical exposure calculation on a shipment that has already entered, use the historical rate list from your customs broker or CBP entry documentation.

Does the calculator account for antidumping or countervailing duties? No. AD/CVD rates are separate from Section 232 and are administered by the International Trade Administration under a different statute. Add them separately if they apply to your HTS code and country of origin.

Still stuck? Email support@digitalempireholdings.com or support@digitalempireholdings.com.

FAQ

Does the calculator support all Section 232 metals HTS codes?

Yes, every HTS code currently within scope of an active Section 232 proclamation is covered, and the calculator returns a clear "not in scope" result for codes outside the program.

How often does the tariff rate data refresh?

Daily, synchronized against Federal Register publications. Rate changes typically take effect on the specific date named in the proclamation, and the calculator reflects the effective-date rate on the day you run it.

Can I use this for retroactive tariff impact analysis?

No. The calculator returns the current rate as of today. For a historical exposure calculation on a shipment that has already entered, use the historical rate list from your customs broker or CBP entry documentation.

Does the calculator account for antidumping or countervailing duties?

No. AD/CVD rates are separate from Section 232 and are administered by the International Trade Administration under a different statute. Add them separately if they apply to your HTS code and country of origin.