New Guidance for Section 232 Aluminum with Unknown Country of Smelt and Cast

On June 13, 2025, U.S. Customs and Border Protection released CSMS # 65340246 – GUIDANCE: Section 232 Aluminum Import Instructions for Reporting Unknown for the Country of Smelt and Cast. Starting June 28, 2025, importers who are unable to determine the country of origin of smelt and cast for aluminum derivatives will be required to report “unknown” as the country of origin and must report HTS 9903.85.67 or 9903.85.68, as applicable. The product will be assessed a 200 percent Section 232 duty rate – associated with imports of aluminum from Russia.

FAQ

Is this requirement retroactive?

No. This new reporting guidance is effective June 28, 2025.

What changed?

Previous guidance on the CBP Section 232 Tariffs on Steel and Aluminum FAQs stated, “For derivative aluminum, the filer, as an interim solution, may report any country other than the United States if the filer does not know the country of smelt or cast. Importers may submit a post-summary correction to update the country of smelt or cast when they obtain information on the actual countr(ies) of smelt or cast. For a long-term solution, CBP is looking into other options for reporting an unknown country of smelt or cast. CBP will provide guidance through CSMS when more information is available.”

Have Questions? Contact your local NNR Representative.

We will continue to monitor this tariff action and provide updates as they become available.