A Guide to Trump’s Section 232 Tariffs, in Nine Maps

Section 232 tariffs aim to protect U.S. national security. Created by the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, Section 232 empowers the president to charge duties pending the results of a Department of Commerce investigation into the imports’ effects on national security. The Trump administration has already used this tool to raise levies on aluminum, cars, car parts, and steel, and has launched 232 investigations into seven other types of products.

These nine graphics dive into each sector, laying out the scale of imports, their concentration by country, and the geopolitics of exporting nations, separating friends—NATO members, major non-NATO allies, and free trade agreement (FTA) partners—from potential foes.

Steel and Aluminum

In 2018, Trump imposed Section 232 tariffs of 25 percent on steel and 10 percent on aluminum. He re-upped duties quickly after reentering office, placing 25 percent tariffs on both metals in February 2025, then doubling fees to 50 percent in June. The United Kingdom (UK) continues to face 25 percent tariffs, despite inking a trade deal with the United States last month with the promise to “make progress towards 0 percent tariffs on core steel products as agreed.”

There are carve-outs. The order exempts washing machines, refrigerators, dishwashers, and other products made from steel and aluminum if the steel was melted and poured—or the aluminum smelted and cast—in the United States. Otherwise, it taxes the dollar value of the steel or aluminum content in the appliances. 

The United States imports just 25 percent of its steel, but Americans rely on imports for around half of their aluminum. That number is even higher for specialized aluminum used in many electronics, aerospace products, and defense equipment.   

While the Trump administration’s tariffs aim to counter the flood of Chinese steel and aluminum in global markets, our recent expert brief shows they hit U.S. allies hard, as China ships little directly to the United States. Instead, Canada is the top foreign supplier of both metals. Its exports make up more than a fifth of U.S. steel imports and nearly half of aluminum products.

But Section 232 levies on products made from steel and aluminum still directly affect China. Half of these steel derivative items come from just two countries: China and Mexico. By contrast, those made from aluminum are more diversified across trading partners. Mexico accounts for roughly 20 percent, followed by China, which supplies 16 percent, and Taiwan at 14 percent.

Copper

Trump’s Section 232 copper probe spans raw and refined copper, as well as alloys, scrap, and derivative products. The president said on July 8 that he intended to impose a 50 percent tariff on copper, roiling the U.S. copper market and driving up the futures market. The resource is important to American businesses that use the metal for tech devices and power grid components as well as in homes and autos. 

The United States imports roughly half of its copper. Allies Canada and Chile dominate here, taking nearly 60 percent of the U.S. market.

Autos and Auto Parts

In March, Trump imposed 25 percent tariffs on imported cars, small trucks, engines, and other auto parts. This is the largest market affected by Section 232 tariffs, as the United States imports more than $640 billion in autos and auto parts every year.

Here, too, there are carve-outs. Automakers can receive a rebate on a percentage of the foreign-supplied parts in cars assembled in the United States equal to 3.75 percent of the vehicle’s suggested retail price for one year and 2.5 percent the second year. As part of the U.S.-UK deal, one hundred thousand vehicles made in the UK are charged just 10 percent. Autos that comply with the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) are charged tariffs on the portion that is not made in the United States—as long as it meets the treaty’s rules of origin requirements.

The United States imports nearly half of all new cars sold. Most come from six countries—Canada, Germany, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, and the UK—which are all close trading partners. Mexico alone exports a third of those cars.

Close to 60 percent of the parts used in American auto plants are imported. While a majority do come from close trading partners, China is second only to Mexico as a parts supplier. Together, the two countries account for more than half of all U.S. auto part imports.

Trucks

The Trump administration is investigating the national security threat of imported medium- and heavy-duty trucks, including buses, vans, and tractor trucks. 

Nearly half of the trucks sold in the United States are made abroad. Truck imports are more concentrated than cars, relying primarily on just two partners: Mexico and Canada. The countries account for over 80 percent of the trucks that enter the U.S. market, with Japan trailing far behind at 6 percent. China accounts for less than 1 percent of U.S. truck imports.

However, the administration could potentially carve out similar exemptions for USMCA-compliant trucks and truck parts, as it did for autos.

Commercial Aircraft and Jet Engines

Unlike most other goods facing a Section 232 investigation, commercial aircraft, jet engines, and related parts are currently already subject to a 10 percent levy under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Only the UK’s aerospace goods are exempted from tariffs as part of the recently inked trade agreement.

Despite being a net aerospace exporter, the United States last year imported $33 billion more than it exported in commercial aircraft, jet engines, and parts. Close to 50 percent of these imports come from the European Union and a quarter from Canada. Meanwhile, the UK supplies 8 percent, while less than 3 percent come from China and India combined.

Timber and Lumber

The Trump administration is investigating imports of timber, lumber, and derivative products including paper and furniture.

The United States imports roughly 30 percent of the lumber that it consumes. Most of what it imports comes from Canada. The U.S. lumber industry has sought restrictions on Canadian lumber imports for the past 25 years, which they allege receives unfair Canadian subsidies. They also have accused Canada of dumping its lumber in the U.S. market.

Pharmaceuticals

The Trump administration is investigating U.S. pharmaceutical imports, including drugs, critical inputs such as active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), and derivative products. The U.S.-UK trade deal promised carve-outs for British pharmaceuticals, though none have been finalized.

The United States imports nearly 80 percent of generic drug tablets and capsules and half of all branded drugs.

   

While Ireland is the top pharmaceutical supplier by value, this is partly the result of tax dodging by American companies. When measured by weight, the United States depends on China for 44 percent of all pharmaceutical imports. 

Additionally, the United States sources 88 percent of its APIs from abroad. India leads, accounting for 32 percent of the APIs in American drugs. The EU supplies a fifth, and China ships 8 percent.

Yet, the passthrough of Chinese APIs through third countries masks U.S. dependence on its adversary. Roughly 70 percent of India’s APIs come from China. And China and India together account for between 60 and 80 percent of the APIs in European medicines.

Semiconductors

The Trump administration is reviewing whether to impose tariffs on semiconductors, the equipment used to manufacture them, and the products made with them.

The United States relies heavily on foreign suppliers for these goods, importing over $200 billion more than it exported in 2024. And while Washington is working to ramp up domestic semiconductor production through subsidies provided in the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act due to national security concerns, it still relies on imported chips, as well as imported material and chemical inputs. It also depends on testing and packaging abroad, often importing or reimporting its final chips.

Imports are highly concentrated, with five countries providing nearly 80 percent of U.S. semiconductor-tied imports. China tops the list, supplying more than a quarter of imports. It leads assembly, testing, and packaging (ATP) globally, and is home to nearly a third of ATP facilities, including for many U.S.-owned firms. Taiwan supplies almost one fifth of U.S. imports, sending both wafers and finished chips. Mexico ranks third, holding steady at 15 percent over the past decade, though that may rise as Taiwan-based electronics manufacturer Foxconn brings new ATP capacity online as soon as late 2025 or early 2026.

Processed Critical Minerals

The Trump administration is considering tariffs on processed critical minerals and derivative products that use them, such as batteries and wind turbines.

The United States sources twelve critical minerals entirely from abroad. And it depends on imports for more than half of domestic demand for another twenty-eight critical minerals out of the fifty identified by the U.S. Geological Survey as vital to the U.S. economy and national security.

Imports of critical minerals are less concentrated than in other categories under investigation, and no single country dominates. South Africa leads with 16 percent, mainly sending the platinum, rhodium, and palladium used in catalytic converters. Canada follows closely at 15 percent, sending significant amounts of uranium for nuclear power and zinc to coat steel. 

While overall, China accounts for just 6 percent of imports, the United States is heavily dependent on its competitor and rival for specific critical minerals. China supplies nearly 70 percent of U.S. rare earth imports and close to half of imported arsenic, antimony, and tantalum. China’s domination of 90 percent of global gallium production, meanwhile, leaves the U.S. price vulnerable, even as it brings in most of its international supply from other countries. And, as seen recently, China has a chokehold on certain products made from critical minerals, including rare earth magnets used in cars, planes, and all kinds of electronics.

Data Note: Autos include USMCA-compliant content from Canada and Mexico, which is not subject to Section 232 tariffs. “U.S. allies” include North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) members or “Major Non-NATO Allies” as defined by the U.S. Department of State. U.S. law specifies that Taiwan is treated as an ally but not designated as such. “FTA partners” include countries with a comprehensive free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States as defined by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. 

Will Merrow created the graphics for this article.