HS Code for Hot Rolled Steel Coil: 7208 by Thickness and Treatment
Hot rolled steel coil classifies into HTS 7208 by thickness, width, and surface treatment. 7208.10 thick non-pickled, 7208.25-7208.27 pickled in coils, 7208.36-7208.39 in coils thick/medium/thin. Section 232 at 50 percent governs. CBAM applies for EU destinations. Worked tariff math for major lanes.
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Open calculatorHS Code for Hot Rolled Steel Coil: 7208 by Thickness and Treatment
Hot rolled steel coil (HRC) is the highest-volume single steel product imported into the US, with roughly 8 to 10 million tonnes per year split across Korean, Brazilian, Indian, Mexican, and other sources. The 2026 duty stack is dominated by Section 232 at 50 percent plus active ADCVD orders against most major origin countries.
This guide covers the HTS 7208 thickness-band classification, the active ADCVD landscape by origin, the melt-and-pour origin rule, and worked landed cost examples.
Heading 7208 structure
HTS 7208 covers flat-rolled products of iron or non-alloy steel, of a width of 600 mm or more, hot-rolled, not clad, plated, or coated. Subheadings:
- 7208.10: In coils, with patterns in relief (chequered plate). Thicker non-pickled.
- 7208.25 to 7208.27: Pickled in coils, by thickness band.
- 7208.36: In coils, 10 mm or more thick.
- 7208.37: In coils, 4.75 to less than 10 mm thick.
- 7208.38: In coils, 3 to less than 4.75 mm thick.
- 7208.39: In coils, less than 3 mm thick.
- 7208.40: Not in coils, with patterns in relief (chequered plate not in coils).
- 7208.51 to 7208.54: Not in coils, plate, by thickness.
- 7208.90: Other.
For most commodity HRC imports the relevant subheadings are 7208.36, 7208.37, 7208.38, 7208.39 (in coils by thickness).
Worked example: Korean HRC under KORUS
500,000 USD of HTS 7208.39 (under 3 mm thick) from POSCO Korea. Producer-specific AD rate 0 percent.
| Charge | Rate | Base | Amount (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| MFN duty | 0 percent (KORUS) | 500,000 | 0 |
| Section 232 | 50 percent | 500,000 | 250,000 |
| Section 122 (anti-stack, suppressed by 232 on covered steel value) | 0 percent | 0 | 0 |
| AD (Korean HRC A-580-873, POSCO 0 percent specific) | 0 percent | 0 | 0 |
| CVD (Korean HRC C-580-874) | producer-specific, assume 0 | 0 | 0 |
| MPF | capped | 500,000 | 614.35 |
| HMF | 0.125 percent | 500,000 | 625 |
| Total | 251,239.35 |
Effective rate 50.25 percent. The Section 232 layer is the binding cost. KORUS waives MFN. Section 122 is suppressed on the 232-covered value layer per the anti-stacking rule, so the KORUS-vs-non-KORUS gap on covered steel is just the (already-zero) MFN. POSCO's clean AD record means no AD layer.
Worked example: Indian HRC
500,000 USD of HTS 7208.39 from JSW Steel India.
| Charge | Rate | Base | Amount (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| MFN duty | 0 percent | 500,000 | 0 |
| Section 232 | 50 percent | 500,000 | 250,000 |
| Section 122 (suppressed by 232) | 0 percent | 0 | 0 |
| AD (India HRC A-533-882 producer-specific, assume 6 percent JSW) | 6 percent | 500,000 | 30,000 |
| CVD (India HRC C-533-883, assume 5 percent JSW) | 5 percent | 500,000 | 25,000 |
| MPF | capped | 500,000 | 614.35 |
| HMF | 0.125 percent | 500,000 | 625 |
| Total | 306,239.35 |
Effective rate 61.2 percent. Indian HRC pays Section 232 plus producer-specific AD and CVD.
Worked example: Brazilian HRC
500,000 USD of HTS 7208.39 from CSN Brazil.
| Charge | Rate | Base | Amount (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| MFN duty | 0 percent | 500,000 | 0 |
| Section 232 (Brazil TRQ within quota) | 0 | 500,000 | 0 |
| Section 232 (above quota) | 50 percent | applies if surge | 0 |
| Section 122 | 10 percent | 500,000 | 50,000 |
| AD (Brazil HRC A-351-845 producer-specific, assume 0 CSN) | 0 percent | 0 | 0 |
| CVD (Brazil HRC C-351-846) | producer-specific | 0 | 0 |
| MPF | capped | 500,000 | 614.35 |
| HMF | 0.125 percent | 500,000 | 625 |
| Total | 51,239.35 |
Effective rate 10.2 percent. assuming within Brazil TRQ. The TRQ allocation runs quarterly and CSN typically holds significant quota.
Worked example: Chinese HRC
500,000 USD of HTS 7208.39 from a Chinese mill. AD A-570-865 country-wide rate.
| Charge | Rate | Base | Amount (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| MFN duty | 0 percent | 500,000 | 0 |
| Section 232 | 50 percent | 500,000 | 250,000 |
| Section 301 List 3 (HRC on List) | 25 percent | 500,000 | 125,000 |
| Section 122 (suppressed by 232) | 0 percent | 0 | 0 |
| AD (China HRC country-wide) | 90 percent | 500,000 | 450,000 |
| CVD (China HRC) | 50 percent | 500,000 | 250,000 |
| MPF | capped | 500,000 | 614.35 |
| HMF | 0.125 percent | 500,000 | 625 |
| Total | 1,076,239.35 |
Effective rate 215 percent. Chinese HRC is effectively non-importable.
Worked example: Mexican HRC under USMCA
500,000 USD of HTS 7208.39 from Ternium Mexico, Mexican-melt origin.
| Charge | Rate | Base | Amount (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| MFN duty | 0 percent (USMCA) | 500,000 | 0 |
| Section 232 (Mexico TRQ within quota) | 0 | 500,000 | 0 |
| Section 122 | 0 (USMCA) | 0 | 0 |
| AD/CVD | N/A on Mexican HRC | 0 | 0 |
| MPF | 0.3464 percent | 500,000 | 614.35 (capped) |
| HMF | 0.125 percent | 500,000 | 625 |
| Total | 1,239.35 |
Effective rate 0.25 percent. Mexican-melt HRC within the Mexico Section 232 TRQ is the cheapest landed cost path for US importers.
Active US ADCVD orders on HRC
| Origin | AD order | CVD order | Country-wide AD |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | A-570-865 | C-570-866 | 90 percent |
| Korea | A-580-873 | C-580-874 | producer-specific |
| India | A-533-882 | C-533-883 | producer-specific |
| Brazil | A-351-845 | C-351-846 | producer-specific |
| Russia | A-821-844 | C-821-845 | producer-specific, near 100 percent for most producers |
| Turkey | A-489-836 | C-489-837 | producer-specific |
| Thailand | A-549-822 | N/A | producer-specific |
| Netherlands | A-421-815 | N/A | very low country-wide |
Producer-specific rates within each order. Verify current rate before importing.
Melt-and-pour documentation
For all Section 232 entries, the melt-and-pour certificate is required. The document identifies:
- Country of melt (steel produced via BOF, EAF, or other route).
- Country of pour (slab or billet cast).
- Heat number(s) for the specific shipment.
- Mill name and facility location.
Most mills issue MTRs containing this data. For Section 232 affidavit purposes, the certificate must explicitly call out the melt and pour countries.
Run your HRC entry now
The LandedFees calculator handles 7208 by thickness band, the Section 232 50 percent with melt-and-pour origin verification, the active ADCVD orders by producer, the Section 232 TRQ status for Canada / Mexico / EU / UK / Brazil / Korea / Argentina / Australia, and the Section 301 List 3 coverage for Chinese origin.
Section 122 status as of June 20 2026
The May 7 2026 Court of International Trade ruling in Oregon v. United States (consolidated with Burlap and Barrel v. United States) struck down the Section 122 proclamation. The Federal Circuit issued an administrative stay on May 12 2026, so CBP is still collecting the duty pending appeal. Importers paying now should preserve protest rights and refund claims in case the government loses on the merits. The underlying Section 122 authority sunsets July 24 2026 under the statutory 150-day ceiling, regardless of the appeal outcome, unless Congress extends or a fresh proclamation restarts the clock.
Citations
- USITC Harmonized Tariff Schedule heading 7208: https://hts.usitc.gov/?query=7208
- Commerce ADCVD orders on HRC: https://access.trade.gov
- Section 232 steel proclamation June 2025: Federal Register
- CBP Section 232 TRQ allocation reports
- USMCA Annex 4-B chapter 72 rule of origin
- EU CBAM regulation (EU) 2023/956 for EU destinations
Frequently asked questions
Which subheading covers standard 3mm hot-rolled coil?
HTS 7208.39.00 covers hot-rolled steel coil less than 3 mm thick. 7208.38 covers 3 mm or more but less than 4.75 mm. 7208.37 covers 4.75 mm or more but less than 10 mm. 7208.36 covers 10 mm or more. The thickness band determines the line.
Is hot-rolled coil subject to Section 232?
Yes, full 50 percent on chapter 72 since June 2025. Melt-and-pour origin rule applies. Country TRQs available for Canada, Mexico, EU, UK, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Korea. Most other origins (China, India, Russia, Vietnam, Turkey) pay the full 50 percent.
What ADCVD covers hot-rolled coil?
Multiple active orders. A-570-865 (HRC from China, AD), C-570-866 (HRC from China, CVD). Korea, Brazil, Russia, Turkey, India, Thailand also have HRC AD orders. Producer-specific rates. Always check the latest Federal Register notice.
Does CBAM apply on HRC into the EU?
Yes for EU destinations. CBAM definitive phase started January 2026. Embedded emissions per tonne are typically 1.8 to 2.8 tCO2e depending on origin and route (EAF vs BOF). At ETS price 88 EUR per tCO2e, CBAM adds 160 to 250 EUR per tonne to landed cost in the EU.
What is the melt-and-pour certificate?
Producer document identifying the country where the steel was melted (typically the BOF or EAF country) and where it was first poured (cast into slab or billet). Required for Section 232 origin determination. The country where the coil was rolled is irrelevant if the underlying melt was elsewhere.
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