United States: Section 232, Section 301 and AD / CVD exposure
A fastener entering the United States can attract more than one tariff instrument at the same time. This page sets out the structure so your broker and your landed-cost model start from the right classification.
Tariff positions change by proclamation and by notice
The definitive answer for a specific shipment depends on the HTS code, the country of origin, the current derivative list and any applicable AD/CVD order. We confirm the HTS code and origin documentation and state clearly which instrument we believe applies — final determination always sits with US Customs and your broker.
The instruments that hit fasteners
| Instrument | What it does | How it touches fasteners |
|---|---|---|
| Section 232 (steel and aluminium) | Country-agnostic tariffs on steel and aluminium imports, extended over time to a list of derivative products | Whether a specific fastener is treated as a derivative article depends on its HTS classification and the current derivative list. Steel content and origin documentation become decisive |
| Section 301 | Tariffs on listed Chinese-origin goods | Many fastener HTS lines of Chinese origin are on an applicable list. Even where a tariff is suspended or excluded, the classification and origin still govern |
| AD / CVD orders | Product-specific antidumping and countervailing duties on named product categories from named countries | Several fastener categories carry orders (for example steel threaded rod, nails and certain steel fixings). Scope language is product-specific and often narrower than the category name suggests |
| De minimis and entry type | Determines whether duty is collected at all and how documentation is filed | Relevant for low-value shipments; industrial quantities fall in the normal formal entry process regardless |
Documentation we provide to support your entry
- Proposed HTS code per product family, with the reasoning (dimensions, material, coating, use)
- Mill certificates showing steel grade, heat number and country of melt and pour
- Production route statement for origin and, where needed, substantial transformation analysis
- Commercial invoice with the description, unit, quantity and material specification written to match the entry line
- No false origin claims: goods made in China are declared as made in China
We do not offer tariff avoidance through misdeclaration or transshipment. We do offer classification support, and we will tell you when a landed cost no longer works rather than let you discover it at the port.
Frequently asked questions
Is my bolt subject to Section 232?
It depends on the HTS classification and whether the product falls within the current derivative list, which has been expanded over time. Send us the product specification and we will provide the HTS position and origin documentation for your broker to confirm.
Do Chinese fasteners face both Section 301 and Section 232?
Multiple instruments can apply cumulatively to the same entry. That is why the classification, rather than the country alone, is the starting point for landed-cost modelling.
Can you supply from a country outside the tariffs?
Where a product can be produced from non-Chinese wire rod with a genuine change in origin, we will tell you honestly. Where the supply chain cannot support that claim, we will not present it as available.
Need a compliance statement or document pack for your market?
Tell us the destination country and product family — we return the applicable route, required documents and lead time within 48 hours.