Import Duty on Steel Fasteners
US general (MFN) import duty rates for Steel Fasteners range from Free–8.5% across 5 HTS lines (e.g. HTS 7318.15.20 at Free), per USITC HTS release 2026HTSRev22. This is a planning estimate: Section 301, Section 232, AD/CVD, quotas and MPF/HMF are excluded and must be added separately.
Fasteners are the textbook case of a product where Section 232 and Section 301 overlap, and the overlap rules decide the bill.
HTS lines and general duty rates
Read from the USITC Harmonized Tariff Schedule, release 2026HTSRev22. USITC HTS, verify line 7318.15.20.
| HTS code | Description | General rate | Special rate (FTA) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7318.15.20 | Bolts and bolts and their nuts or washers entered or exported in the same shipment | Free | |
| 7318.15.40.00 | Machine screws 9.5 mm or more in length and 3.2 mm or more in diameter (not including cap screws) | Free | |
| 7318.15.50 | Studs | Free | |
| 7318.15.60 | Having shanks or threads with a diameter of less than 6 mm | 6.2% | Free (A*,AU,B,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL,JO,KR,MA,OM,P, |
| 7318.15.80 | Having shanks or threads with a diameter of 6 mm or more | 8.5% | Free (A*,AU,B,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL,JO,KR,MA,OM,P, |
What changes by country of origin
The MFN rate is the same regardless of where the goods are made. Everything below it is not.
| Origin | Base rate | US preference | What else attaches |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | MFN rate above | No US preference on these codes | Section 301 lists 1-4A apply to most consumer goods on top of MFN; the 2026 forced-labor 301 action adds a further layer. |
| Vietnam | MFN rate above | No US preference on these codes | No Section 301 list duty. The 2026 forced-labor 301 action applies. No US FTA, so MFN is the base. |
| India | MFN rate above | No US preference on these codes | No Section 301 list duty and no US FTA. Forced-labor 301 applies. GSP expired, so MFN is the base. |
| Thailand | MFN rate above | No US preference on these codes | No Section 301 list duty and no US FTA. Forced-labor 301 applies. |
| Indonesia | MFN rate above | No US preference on these codes | No Section 301 list duty and no US FTA. Forced-labor 301 applies. |
| Mexico | MFN rate above | No USMCA line on these codes | USMCA: duty-free when the goods meet the rules of origin and the preference is claimed. MFN applies otherwise. |
Free-trade programs named on the lines in this group: Australia (AUSFTA) (2 lines), Bahrain (BHFTA) (2 lines), Chile (CLFTA) (2 lines), Colombia (CTPA) (2 lines), Agoa (2 lines), Caribbean Basin (2 lines). A preference only applies when the goods meet that program's rules of origin and the claim is made on entry. This page does not estimate Section 301 list rates or anti-dumping duty; enter the applicable Section 301 rate in the calculator yourself and verify current list coverage and exclusions at the USTR exclusion notices.
What decides the rate
7318.15 covers screws, bolts, nuts and similar threaded articles of iron or steel. Steel derivatives have been drawn into Section 232 measures, and the 232 and 301 layers do not simply add: the rules specify which one governs. Getting that interaction wrong is the most common error in this category.
Where this goes wrong
The Section 232 derivative scope can turn on the steel content by value, not on whether the item is obviously steel. Keep mill certificates and content calculations with the entry.
Inputs and assumptions
| Item | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Duty rate source | USITC HTS, release 2026HTSRev22 | Read at build time from the official schedule export. The general rate column. |
| Rate range in this category | Free–8.5% across 5 lines | The spread within one product category is the reason a category average is not usable. |
| MPF | 0.3464% of entered value, min $34.58, max $670.86 | CBP User Fee Table, FY2027. The ad valorem rate is statutory; the floor and cap are adjusted each October. |
| HMF | 0.125% of entered value, ocean cargo only | CBP User Fee Table. Not charged on air freight. |
| Customs value | Transaction value, normally the price paid for the goods | Freight and insurance are not part of US customs value, unlike CIF jurisdictions. |
Questions this page answers
How do Section 232 and Section 301 interact on fasteners?
They do not simply add. Steel derivatives are within Section 232 scope, and the rules specify which measure governs where both could apply. Treating them as additive gives the wrong number in either direction.
Does the steel content matter for a small fastener?
It can. The derivative scope turns on material content and, in places, value, not on whether the item looks like steel. Mill certificates and content calculations belong in the entry file.
Does this estimate include anti-dumping duty?
No. Anti-dumping and countervailing duty are case-specific and can exceed every other layer combined, so they are outside the estimate by design. The calculator covers base duty, the Section 301 and 232 layers you enter, the merchandise processing fee and the harbor maintenance fee.
Data release: 2026HTSRev22. Content as of November 10, 2026. Found an error? Tell us and it gets corrected.