Effects of Recently Announced Section 232 Tariffs on Imported Steel Products
DISCLAIMER: MAR-MAC is a manufacturer and distributor of building products for the reinforced concrete construction industry. MAR-MAC IS NOT A LAW FIRM. What follows is NOT LEGAL ADVICE.
President Trump signed a proclamation on Thursday, March 8th to impose a 25% tariff on imported steel products as a result of the US Commerce Department’s Section 232 Investigation of “The Effect of Imports of Steel on the National Security.”
The Commerce report can be found here: https://www.commerce.gov/page/section-232-investigation-effect-imports-steel-us-national-security
The President’s Proclamation can be found here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/presidential-proclamation-adjusting-imports-steel-united-states/
According to the Proclamation, the tariff will take effect at 12:01 AM on March 23, 2018. MAR-MAC assumes that this means any import shipment that has not cleared customs by this deadline will be assessed the 25% tariff. The President’s Proclamation defines “steel articles” via the Harmonized Tariff Schedule at the 6-digit level:
For the purposes of this proclamation, “steel articles” are defined at the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) 6‑digit level as: 7206.10 through 7216.50, 7216.99 through 7301.10, 7302.10, 7302.40 through 7302.90, and 7304.10 through 7306.90, including any subsequent revisions to these HTS classifications.
The entire Official Harmonized Tariff Schedule can be found here: https://usitc.gov/tata/hts/index.htm
MAR-MAC offers CONTRACTOR Concrete Construction Products as a value option to our customers. CONTRACTOR Products are sourced as economically as possible and most often originate in China. The list below is a breakdown of where in the CONTRACTOR family of products we expect the Section 232 tariff to apply:
| Product | Subject to Tariff? |
| Anchor bolts, galvanized | NO |
| Anchor bolts, plain steel | NO |
| Bar ties, black-annealed | NO |
| Foundation chairs, steel | NO |
| Merchant coils, black-annealed | YES |
| Nails, bright-common | NO |
| Nails, duplex | NO |
| Nails, sinker (cement coated) | NO |
| Rebar tie wire, black-annealed | YES |
| Round steel nail stakes, painted | NO |
| T-posts | NO |
The most obvious impact is an increase in the cost of imported rebar tie wire and merchant coils from the 25% tariff. It is less clear right now what the ultimate impact of the tariffs will be on supply and availability of these items in the coming weeks and months.
MAR-MAC’s key Customer Service Principle is to have “The Right Stuff in the Right Place at the Right Time”, meaning that we strive to have product available to ship when you need it. The Section 232 action has been surrounded with uncertainty and has been impossible to plan for. Domestic raw material pricing has been going up for several months. We believe the reasons are both (1) anticipated tariffs, and (2) rising world steel demand. MAR-MAC will manage any immediate increases in demand in a reasonable measure and attempt to service all customers. This may include limiting order quantities if and when necessary.
Don’t forget: MAR-MAC manufactures its PREMIUM Tire Wire and other PREMIUM Building Products in the USA with 100% USA melted and rolled steel. MAR-MAC PREMIUM Tie Wire is cleaner, softer, stronger, and easier to cut and tie than any other rebar tie wire on the market – foreign or domestic!
Talk to your MAR-MAC sales representative today to order MAR-MAC PREMIUM!
DISCLAIMER: MAR-MAC is a manufacturer and distributor of building products for the reinforced concrete construction industry. MAR-MAC IS NOT A LAW FIRM. What follows is NOT LEGAL ADVICE.