Section 232 vs 301 vs 122: How US Tariffs Stack in 2026

US tariff law has multiple authorities, each with its own scope, mechanics, and rate structure. In 2026 three matter most for typical importers:

• Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962: national security tariffs on steel and aluminum.
• Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974: retaliatory tariffs on China.
• Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974: balance-of-payments tariffs across the board.

This guide shows how to determine which apply to your import, the order of operation, the anti-stacking rules, and worked examples.

A decision tree

Start with your eight-digit HTS and the country of origin. Work through these questions in order:

1. Is the HTS in chapter 72, 73, or 76 (or on the expanded Section 232 derivative list)?

If yes: Section 232 applies at 25 percent on the full entered value, with melt-and-pour origin tracking. Some countries have TRQ arrangements (Canada, EU, Japan, South Korea, Mexico variously); within quota Section 232 is 0 percent.

Anti-stacking: Section 122 does not apply to the value portion covered by Section 232.

2. Is the country of origin China?

If yes: check whether the HTS is on Section 301 List 1, 2, 3, or 4A.

• List 1, 2, 3: 25 percent ad valorem surcharge.
• List 4A: 7.5 percent ad valorem surcharge.
• Not on any list: no Section 301.

Section 301 surcharges are additive to MFN HTS.

3. Is the HTS in the Section 122 exemption list?

The exemption list as of mid-2026 includes:

• Semiconductors and certain semiconductor manufacturing equipment.
• Civil aircraft parts under the WTO Civil Aircraft Agreement.
• Selected pharmaceutical APIs.
• EV battery materials.
• Emergency medical supplies.

If on the exempt list: no Section 122.

4. Is the origin USMCA-qualifying (Mexico or Canada with proper certification)?

If yes: no Section 122.

If none of the exemption applies: Section 122 adds 15 percent ad valorem on the dutiable base.

5. Is the product subject to an active AD or CVD order?

If yes: producer-specific rate added on top of MFN and the section duties. AD and CVD are separate categories of duty and do not interact with the Section 122 anti-stacking rule.

6. Compute the entry summary

Sum MFN, Section 301 (if applicable), Section 122 (if applicable, with anti-stacking applied), Section 232 (if applicable), AD, CVD, MPF, HMF.

The anti-stacking rule, in detail

The CBP guidance issued 31 March 2026 specifies:

"Where merchandise is subject to additional duty under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 (codified at 19 USC 1862) on all or any portion of its entered value, the additional duty under the 5 February 2026 Section 122 proclamation shall not apply to that portion of the entered value."

In practice:

• All steel article: Section 232 covers 100 percent of value. Section 122 = 0.
• Steel-containing electronic device: bill of materials shows the steel value. Section 232 applies to the steel portion. Section 122 applies to the non-steel portion.
• Plastic article assembled with steel screws: trivial steel portion. CBP currently treats trivial steel content under a de minimis rule (about 5 percent of value); Section 122 applies to full value.

Worked example: China-origin steel pipe

A 100,000 USD shipment of welded steel pipe from China. HTS 7306.30.50 (steel pipe of circular cross-section), MFN 0 percent, Section 301 List 3 (25 percent), Section 232 (25 percent). Section 122 anti-stacks against 232.

Effective rate 50.5 percent. Without the anti-stacking rule (if Section 122 stacked on 232), it would be 65.5 percent.

Worked example: China-origin consumer electronics with steel chassis

A 200,000 USD shipment of LED TVs from China. HTS 8528.72 (display monitors, LED), MFN 5 percent, Section 301 List 3 (25 percent), Section 122 (15 percent), no Section 232 on the parent HTS but the chassis contains steel components.

The bill of materials shows steel content worth 40,000 USD per shipment. Section 232 covers the 40,000 USD steel portion. Section 122 applies only to the non-steel 160,000 USD.

Effective rate 47.4 percent. The anti-stacking saves 6,000 USD versus a full overlap of 122 on steel portion.

Worked example: Mexico-origin USMCA-qualifying aluminum extrusion

A 75,000 USD shipment of aluminum extrusions from Mexico, USMCA-qualifying. HTS 7604.21 (aluminum profiles), MFN 5 percent, Section 232 25 percent. Question: do USMCA exemptions extend to Section 232?

Answer: No. Section 232 applies regardless of USMCA. The melt-and-pour origin of the aluminum must be North American to qualify for the 232 TRQ.

Effective rate 25.3 percent. USMCA helps with MFN and 122 but not 232.

If the producer can demonstrate North American melt source and the quarterly TRQ is not yet filled, Section 232 drops to 0 percent and the total duty is only 259.80 USD MPF.

Worked example: USMCA-qualifying Mexican-origin auto parts

A 500,000 USD shipment of brake assemblies for passenger cars. HTS 8708.30, MFN 2.5 percent, USMCA-qualifying.

Effective rate: trivial. USMCA-qualifying auto parts are the cleanest import scenario in 2026.

What is not in the stack

Worth being explicit:

• Section 201 safeguards: limited active scope (solar). Where active, they add additively.
• Antidumping (AD): producer-specific. Adds on top.
• Countervailing duty (CVD): producer-specific. Adds on top.
• Smoot-Hawley tariff schedule: historical artifact, replaced by the HTS.
• Reciprocal tariffs under WTO retaliation (Boeing-Airbus, beef-hormones): scattered chapter 99 duties when active. Mostly resolved.

Reading a Form 7501 with the stack

The CBP Form 7501 entry summary uses parallel lines for special duties:

Line 1: HTS 8528.72.64 (regular)        @ MFN 5%
Line 2: HTS 9903.88.03 (Section 301)    @ 25%
Line 3: HTS 9903.30.01 (Section 122)    @ 15%
Line 4: HTS 9903.80.01 (Section 232)    @ 25% on steel portion

The total duty calculation on the entry summary line sums all four (with anti-stacking applied). The chapter 99 codes are CBP's signal that these are special duties; they do not have their own descriptions.

Practical importer playbook

1. Know your HTS to 10 digits. The dutiable rate, Section 301 list, Section 232 scope, and Section 122 exemption all key on the HTS.
2. Know your origin to the substantial-transformation standard.
3. Maintain a bill of materials for goods with mixed steel content. The anti-stacking rule cannot be applied without it.
4. Maintain origin certifications for USMCA-qualifying goods.
5. Audit your entries quarterly. CBP enforcement under 19 USC 1592 catches misapplied Section 122 anti-stacking, missing 301 declarations, and wrong USMCA claims.

How the calculator handles the stack

The LandedFees calculator implements the full decision tree:

1. Identifies Section 232 scope by HTS.
2. Identifies Section 301 lists by HTS plus China origin.
3. Identifies Section 122 exemptions by HTS.
4. Applies anti-stacking rule between 232 and 122 on the same value.
5. Applies AD/CVD by HTS plus country plus producer.
6. Sums MFN, sections, AD/CVD, MPF, HMF.
7. Produces an itemized breakdown.

Related guides

• What is Section 122? The 2026 Reciprocal Tariff Explained
• Steel HS Codes Under Section 232
• Aluminum HS Codes Under Section 232
• Calculate Import Duty: China to USA
• Calculate Import Duty: Mexico to USA
• USMCA Origin Rules: What Qualifies and What Doesn't

Run the full stack on your own shipment in the calculator.