Thursday, Sep 10, 2026 The claims desk. Receipts included. POWERED BY LENZ ↗
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In 2018, the U.S. imposed Section 232 tariffs of 25% on steel and 10% on aluminum for national security.

The Claim

The United States imposed Section 232 tariffs of 25% on steel imports and 10% on aluminium imports on national security grounds.

Verified by Lenz ·

The Short Version

The statement accurately describes the original 2018 Section 232 action. Official U.S. sources show the tariffs were imposed on national security grounds at 25% for steel and 10% for aluminum. Later changes raised and modified those rates, but they do not undo the historical fact stated here.

Caveats

  • These were the original 2018 rates; current Section 232 rates were later increased and modified, so the statement should not be read as describing the tariff regime in May 2026.
  • The original rollout included country-specific exemptions and later adjustments, which the claim does not mention.
  • The claim is historically accurate, but it omits that aluminum no longer remained at 10% after later policy changes.

The Receipts

  1. Section 232 Steel and Aluminum

    Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS)

  2. Proclamation on Adjusting Imports of Derivative Aluminum Articles ...

    Trump White House Archives

  3. Adjusting Imports of Aluminum and Steel into the United States

    White House

  4. Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Restores Section 232 Tariffs

    The White House

  5. Special Topic: Section 232 and 301 Trade Actions in 2018

    U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC)

  6. Adjusting Imports of Aluminum and Steel Into the United States

    Federal Register

  7. Strengthening Actions Taken to Adjust Imports of Aluminum, Steel, and Copper Into the United States

    The White House

  8. What You Need to Know About Implementing Steel and Aluminum ...

    Trump White House Archives

  9. Section 232 Tariffs on Steel & Aluminum

    Strtrade.com

  10. A Guide to Trump's Section 232 Tariffs, in Maps

    Council on Foreign Relations (CFR)

+ 8 more sources — see the full list on Lenz

Filed Under

Section 232 Steel and Aluminum Tariffs: Potential Economic ImplicationsUnited States

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