The Bureau of Industry and Security's April 2026 Section 232 auto parts inclusions window opens April 1 and closes April 14, creating a 14-day period during which interested parties can petition to add specific HTS codes to the list of automotive components subject to 25% tariffs under Proclamation 9980.

Docket ITA-2025-0040: The Mechanism for HTS Scope Changes

Submissions must be filed through Docket ITA-2025-0040 on regulations.gov. The International Trade Administration reviews each petition against criteria established in the February 2025 Federal Register notice (90 FR 12847), which requires petitioners to demonstrate that the targeted component is "essential to the production or operation of automobiles" and that domestic production capacity exists or could be developed within 24 months. Accepted petitions trigger a 60-day comment period before final HTS inclusions are announced.

Current Section 232 Auto Parts Coverage: The existing tariff list covers approximately 180 HTS subheadings under Chapters 84, 85, 87, and 40, including engines (8407.34), transmissions (8708.40), electrical components (8544.30), and body stampings (8708.29). The April window could expand this to additional subheadings within these chapters or introduce coverage in adjacent chapters like 39 (plastics) or 73 (steel articles).

Likely Expansion Targets Based on Prior Submissions

Analysis of the October 2025 inclusions window (Docket ITA-2025-0028) reveals patterns in pending requests. Twelve petitions targeting HTS 8708.99 (other motor vehicle parts) subclassifications remain under review, with specific focus on 8708.99.6805 (brake system parts) and 8708.99.8180 (suspension components). Additionally, four petitions seek inclusion of semiconductor-adjacent components under 8542.39.0001, citing national security concerns around automotive chip dependencies.

The Commerce Department's January 2026 report to Congress flagged 8507.60 (lithium-ion batteries for EVs) as a potential candidate for future inclusion, though no formal petition has appeared in the public docket. Systems consuming HTS data should monitor these specific subheadings for classification changes.

Rate Caching Risk: Section 232 inclusions take effect 15 days after Federal Register publication with no transition period. If your system caches duty rates, a newly included HTS code could serve stale data (0% general rate) instead of the correct 25% Section 232 rate. Implement cache invalidation triggers tied to Federal Register API updates or reduce TTL on Chapter 84, 85, and 87 rates during active docket periods.

Timeline for April 2026 Window

Based on the regulatory calendar established by Commerce, the following dates apply:

April 1, 2026: Docket ITA-2025-0040 opens for electronic submissions via regulations.gov.
April 14, 2026: Submission deadline at 11:59 PM ET.
April 28, 2026 (estimated): ITA publishes accepted petitions for public comment.
June 27, 2026 (estimated): Comment period closes.
August 2026 (estimated): Final determination published in Federal Register.
15 days post-publication: New HTS inclusions take effect.

Integration Considerations for HTS Data Consumers

The Section 232 tariff operates as an additional duty layered on top of Column 1 general rates. For affected HTS codes, your rate calculation logic must sum the MFN rate plus 25%, then apply any applicable antidumping or countervailing duties. The USITC's HTS database reflects these additions in the "special" rate column with the indicator "S232," but publication lag can exceed 72 hours after Federal Register notice.

For Canadian-origin automotive parts, the USMCA certificate of origin exemption remains in effect under 19 CFR 10.1013, but only for goods meeting the 75% regional value content threshold. Parts failing RVC calculations fall back to Section 232 rates regardless of Canadian origin.

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