New Section 232 tariff categories just dropped. See your exposure before the comment window closes.
Free 60-second HTS code check against the Aug 27 BIS comment window. See your current Section 232 exposure plus what changes if the 14 proposed derivative articles get finalized.
- Aluminum powder · brass-wind musical instruments & parts
- Welding-machine parts · floor safes · electric conductor cables
- Fire extinguishers · heat-exchange-unit parts · hydraulic engine parts
- Mobile lifting frames, straddle carriers & self-propelled cranes
- Tanker, agricultural & other trailers · filled steel containers
See all Digital Empire pricing →
Verified against Federal Register notice 2026-15961 (published Aug 6, 2026) and the USTR/Commerce Section 232 modifications through Jun 2026.
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Section 232 comment window
14 new proposed categories
BIS opened a public-comment window Aug 4, 2026 for 14 new Section 232 derivative articles (the FR notice's own bulleted list — its summary paragraph condenses 2 of them into one sentence, but the notice body names 14 distinct items), most proposed at 25% if finalized — on top of existing steel/aluminum/copper rates.
Full customs-value basis
The Apr 2, 2026 restructuring shifted Section 232 tariffs to the full customs value of derivative products (not just metal content), with the formal exclusion-petition process terminated.
50% on most steel, aluminum, copper
The Jun 1, 2026 modification set 50% rates on aluminum, most steel, and most copper articles and derivatives — a 25% base rate applies to other categories.
Questions importers ask first
I already have a customs broker who classifies for me — why do I need TariffWatch?
Your broker classifies on the entry, downstream of your PO decision. TariffWatch shows exposure BEFORE the PO — including on the 14 categories BIS hasn't finalized yet.
Is this customs classification advice?
No. TariffWatch is a data and workflow tool, not customs classification advice under 19 CFR 111. It is not a licensed customs broker, not a filer of record, and not a legal-advice service. You and your customs broker or trade attorney make the compliance call.
What happens after the Aug 27 comment window closes?
Commerce and BIS hold rolling authority to add HTS codes with no fixed timeline even after this window. TariffWatch's paid tier monitors Federal Register and CBP CSMS for future inclusion notices.
Will you actually draft a comment letter for me?
Yes — free while the comment window is open. After you check your exposure and share your email, we draft a personalized public comment letter as a PDF, ready for your review before submitting at regulations.gov. Prefer we submit it for you? See the 14 comment-letter templates; each template page has a $49 “we file this for you” option next to the free download.
Will BIS actually read my comment letter?
Comments submitted to a Federal Register notice's docket become part of the official public record BIS and Commerce are required to consider before finalizing a rule — that's the legal function of a comment period. We can't promise a specific reader reads any specific letter line by line, and we can't promise a specific outcome; what a docketed comment guarantees is that your business's stated exposure and objections are on the record, which matters both for the rulemaking and for your own paper trail if the rule is challenged later.
What about data privacy on my HTS codes?
Your HTS codes and estimated annual customs value are stored to generate your exposure estimate and (if you request one) your comment letter, and are never sold. Full detail — what's collected, who processes it, how long it's kept, and how to export or delete it — is in our privacy policy. One important caveat: if you choose to submit your drafted letter to regulations.gov, your HTS codes and business name become part of the public federal docket by design — that's how public comment works, not something TariffWatch adds on top.
Isn't this just a generic form letter?
No — the drafter is grounded in the exact HTS codes and annual customs value from your exposure check, plus any business context you add, not a fill-in-the-blank template. See real (anonymized) examples on our sample letter gallery before you request your own.
Do I need my customs broker's permission first?
No — submitting a public comment to a federal rulemaking docket is a right available to any affected party, business or individual; it doesn't require your customs broker's sign-off any more than writing to your representative does. That said, your broker or trade attorney may want to review the letter before you file it, especially if you plan to reference specific classification positions — we build the draft with a "review before submitting" step for exactly that reason.
Digital Empire builds compliance tools for regulated verticals — pharma, consumer products, metals.
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