U.S. Department of Commerce Puts Tariffs on Household Appliances
On June 16, 2025 the Unite States Department of Commerce published a notice in the Federal Register applying Section 232 tariffs on steel to 8 common household appliances. A duty rate of up to 50% will now apply to the steel content of these articles. Here is the latest information from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
BACKGROUND
On February 10, 2025 Presidential Proclamation 10896 imposed a 25% tariff on certain steel and steel derivative articles. The Proclamation also established a process for the Department of Commerce to include additional steel derivatives under the scope of the tariff. On June 3, 2025, Presidential Proclamation 10947 imposed an additional 25% tariff on steel and steel derivatives. Most recently, the Department of Commerce on June 16, 2025 published a list of steel derivative products which would be subject to the tariff beginning on June 23, 2025.
HOW DERIVATIVE TARIFFS ARE CALCULATED
For steel derivative articles, the 50% duty is applied only to the value of steel content of the article. The value of steel content is the total price paid or payable for the steel content by the buyer to the seller. In other words, the value of the steel contempt is the total payment made to the seller for the steel content of the imported article. CBP typically bases this value on the invoice price between the buyer and the seller.
NEW ARTICLES
On or after 12:01AM EST on June 23, 2025, 8 new steel derivative articles will be subject to section 232 tariffs. The recently added articles are as follows:
- combined refrigerator-freezers under HTSUS subheading 8418.10.00;
- small and large dryers under HTSUS subheadings 8451.21.00 and 8451.29.00;
- washing machines under HTSUS subheadings 8450.11.00 and 8450.20.00;
- dishwashers under HTSUS subheading 8422.11.00;
- chest and upright freezers under HTSUS subheadings 8418.30.00 and 8418.40.00;
- cooking stoves, ranges, and ovens under HTSUS subheading 8516.60.40;
- food waste disposals under HTSUS subheading 8509.80.20; and
- welded wire rack under statistical reporting number 9403.99.9020. (Note that HTSUS 9403.99.9020 is also subject to Section 232 measures on aluminum derivatives articles per Proclamation 10895)
CONCLUSION
In summary, eight common household appliances will now be subject to Section 232 duties. The duties are assessed only on the value of the steel content of the articles, which is the price paid by the buyer to the seller for the steel content.
As new tariff regulations continue to evolve, navigating these changes requires experienced legal counsel. At Liang + Mooney, PLLC, our seasoned tariff lawyers can answer your questions and concerns with sophisticated legal solutions. If you seek strategic counsel and insight into which tariffs apply to your operations, we invite you to contact us to schedule a consultation.