A proclamation signed on 2 April 2026 and effective 6 April applies Section 232 duties to steel, aluminium and copper derivatives on the full customs value.
The change is not a single rate. It introduces tiers of 50, 25, 15 and 10 percent, an exemption where metal content is 15 percent or less by weight, and a rolling inclusion process in place of the earlier standalone derivative procedure.
For tracker importers, the valuation base matters as much as the rate.
Month at a glance
Tier table and classification
We map the tiers to product types and show how a structure such as HTS 7308.90 is assessed, including the metal-content test.
Transmission into tracker costs
From material to CAPEX
A sensitivity calculation traces an input-price change through tracker BOM to project CAPEX. Assumptions are printed with the result.
Six-region impact matrix
The U.S., EU, India, Middle East, Latin America and Chinese supply chain are compared on exposure, not assigned a single number.
Data box
| Field | Value as reported |
|---|---|
| Signed | 2 April 2026 |
| Effective | 6 April 2026 |
| Tiers | 50 / 25 / 15 / 10 percent |
| Exemption | Metal content 15 percent or less by weight |
| Valuation | Full customs value |
| Process | Rolling inclusion of derivatives |
All figures above are quoted with the unit and reference period used by the primary source. They are reproduced here for reference, not independently re-measured.
Next month's watchlist: verification note
Secondary sources claim a 20 percent provisional rate for PV racking from 6 April, which conflicts with the official tiers and has no Federal Register support. We follow the official texts and note the discrepancy.
What to watch next
CBP guidance on derivative inclusion and any classification rulings for tracker components.
Primary sources
- U.S. Proclamation 2026-04-02 / Federal Register; CBP CSMS guidance
- Hong Kong TID Commercial Information Circular No. 312/2026 (cross-check)
- LME / CRU / Fastmarkets price series
Price series and policy rates in this column are dated. Always check the take-date printed next to each figure.
Researched and written by the solarrack.wiki editorial desk. Every figure in this article carries a source and a verification note; where a claim could not be confirmed against a primary document, it is labelled as such. Corrections: [email protected]
