July 14, 2026 - The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) recently initiated a Section 232 investigation into imports of anthracite and metallurgical bituminous coal used as inputs in steel production. In new research, Director of Trade Policy Jacob Jensen and Director of Energy and Environmental Policy Shuting Pomerleau estimate what a potential tariff on these critical inputs for domestic steel production and industrial processes would cost U.S. businesses.

Key points:

• The DOC investigation may result in a Section 232 national security tariff on targeted coal imports, which aligns with the administration’s policy and financial support for the domestic coal industry, as well as its general positive view toward tariffs.
• This research estimates that a coal tariff would result in $6 million in additional annual costs for U.S. businesses.
• This cost could rise to $16–$26 million if trade agreement exemptions are not honored or import volumes rise to 2024 levels.

Read the analysis.