Quota Established for European Union Exemption from Section 232 Duties on Steel and Aluminum

President Biden issued two Proclamations establishing a tariff rate quota (TRQ) for European Union (EU) products which exempt them from being subject to the  additional 25% Section 232 duties on steel, and the 10% duties on aluminum.  The TRQ is effective for consumption entries or withdrawals from warehouse, as of January 1st, 2022, and would be renewed for the next calendar year, through December 31st, 2023.

This is a positive development for U.S. importers who rely upon EU aluminum and steel, as they’ll pay lower duties when importing within the quota. 

Goods entered into a Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) in ‘privileged foreign status’ prior to January 1st, 2022 are eligible to use this TRQ for consumption entries beginning January 1st, 2022.

Please note the following:

Steel:

  • Steel articles from member country of the EU must be melted and poured in the EU to be eligible to enter under the TRQ.
  • TRQ annual total: 3.3 million metric tons. 
  • TRQ Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS): 9903.80.65 through 9903.81.19
  • TRQ Periods: Four quarterly periods.
  • All granted exclusions issued by Commerce during Fiscal Year 2021 (October 1st, 2020 through September 30th, 2021) for EU steel products which were utilized will be renewed for two calendar years.

Aluminum:

  • Aluminum articles must be accompanied by a certificate of analysis to be eligible to enter under the TRQ.
  • TRQ annual total: 18,000 metric tons of unwrought aluminum, and

                           366,040 metric tons of semi-finished wrought aluminum.

  • TRQ HTS 9903.85.25 through 9903.85.44.
  • TRQ Periods: 2 semi-annual periods.
  • Importers granted a Commerce exclusion will count against the TRQ.

Quota status may be monitored using Customs and Border Protection’s Weekly Commodity Status Reports.

If you have any questions regarding the TRQ for EU steel and aluminum products, please contact your Livingston account manager.