25% Section 232 tariff on cars and auto parts, capped at 15% for the EU, Japan and South Korea
Proclamation 10908 put a 25% Section 232 tariff on imported passenger vehicles and light trucks from April 3, 2025 and on listed auto parts from May 3, 2025. Trade deals cap the total at 15% for the European Union, Japan and South Korea, and USMCA vehicles pay only on their non-U.S. content.
What this affects
European Union
Japan
South Korea
Canada
Mexico| 8703 | Passenger vehicles |
| 8704 | Light trucks |
| Chapter 99 9903.94 | Section 232 auto and auto parts reporting headings |
Codes are a starting point, not a classification. Confirm your own 10-digit HTS before you rely on a rate, using our HTS classification guide.
Key dates
- April 3, 202525% duty starts on vehiclesPassed
- May 3, 202525% duty starts on listed auto partsPassed
The update
The auto tariff is the oldest of the current Section 232 product actions and is unaffected by the February 2026 Supreme Court ruling, which struck down only tariffs imposed under IEEPA. Vehicles and listed parts from every country pay 25% unless a deal or USMCA rule lowers it.
Agreements implemented in 2025 cap the total duty on cars and parts at 15%, including the ordinary duty, for the European Union (notice of September 25, 2025), Japan (September 16, 2025) and South Korea (December 4, 2025). Taiwan's cap on certain auto parts started May 1, 2026 and has its own entry on this tracker.
USMCA-qualifying vehicles from Canada and Mexico pay the 25% only on their non-U.S. content.
Goods that pay Section 232 duties are exempt from the 10% or 12.5% Section 301 forced-labor duty.
Impact
Anyone importing vehicles or replacement and accessory parts that appear on the parts list pays 25% of customs value on top of the ordinary duty, unless the origin has a cap. Origin and USMCA documentation decide most of the bill.
What to watch
The parts list is set by HTS line, so similar-looking parts can fall on either side. Caps apply only to goods that originate in the partner. Medium and heavy trucks and buses are a separate Section 232 action with their own rates.
How to prepare
- 1Check each part against the parts list
Only listed HTS lines pay the 25 percent.
- 2Document origin for capped countries
EU, Japanese and Korean origin can cap the total at 15 percent only if origin is supported.
- 3Document USMCA content for North American vehicles
Qualifying vehicles pay only on their non-U.S. content.
Sources
- Adjusting Imports of Automobiles and Automobile Parts Into the United States (Proclamation 10908) · Federal Register · April 3, 2025
- Implementing Certain Tariff-Related Elements of the U.S.-EU Framework on an Agreement on Reciprocal, Fair, and Balanced Trade · Federal Register · September 25, 2025
- Implementing Certain Tariff-Related Elements of the United States-Japan Agreement · Federal Register · September 16, 2025
- Implementing Certain Tariff-Related Elements of the U.S.-Korea Strategic Trade and Investment Deal · Federal Register · December 4, 2025
- Section 232 Automotive Tariffs: Issues for Congress (IN12545) · Congressional Research Service
We summarize published reporting and official notices. Always confirm rates and dates against the Federal Register or your customs broker before acting on them.