# Southwest and California: Tariffs, Trade & U.S. Exposure

Southwest and California: Southwest and California is not a significant U.S. goods-trade partner; the latest U.S. tariff action toward it (2026-04-06) is "Section 232 metals coverage expanded", in effect (as of 2026-11-04).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/countries/xw
- As of: 2026-11-04
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Country code: XW
- Tariff treatment: universal baseline, no country-specific action
- Reciprocal tariff (universal baseline): 10%
- Section 301: no
- Tariff status verified: 2026-06-13
- Latest tariff action: 2026-04-06: Section 232 metals coverage expanded (in effect)
- Supply-map inputs and goods: 2 inputs feeding 1 essential American goods
- Coverage: data

## U.S. tariff posture toward Southwest and California

No U.S. tariff action singles this country out. Its goods face the universal 10% temporary import surcharge under Section 122 of the Trade Act (which replaced the IEEPA reciprocal baseline in February 2026) plus the sectoral Section 232 duties — steel and aluminum at 50% — that apply to all countries. The Section 122 surcharge is statutorily temporary — scheduled to lapse on or about July 23, 2026 (a 150-day cap) unless extended or replaced.

- Reciprocal tariff (universal baseline): 10%. The universal 10% floor, a Section 122 import surcharge since February 2026, previously the EO 14257 reciprocal baseline, applies to nearly all U.S. imports; this country has no higher assigned rate of its own.

## Tariff status, 6 changes since 2025

- 2026-04-06: Section 232 metals coverage expanded (in effect). The April 2026 proclamation strengthening Section 232 actions on aluminum, steel, and copper expanded derivative-product coverage for all countries, keeping the general metals rate at 50%. [91 FR 18201](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-06960)
- 2026-02-24: IEEPA reciprocal tariffs terminated — replaced by 10% Section 122 surcharge (in effect, 10%). Executive Order 14389 (Ending Certain Tariff Actions) terminated the IEEPA tariff duties — including the EO 14257 reciprocal baseline — effective February 24, 2026. A flat 10% Section 122 temporary import surcharge (Proclamation 11012 of February 20, 2026) replaced them, leaving the universal rate unchanged at 10% on a different statutory basis. Section 122 caps such surcharges at 150 days, so this 10% surcharge is scheduled to lapse on or about July 23, 2026 absent further action (the administration has signaled it could raise the rate toward the 15% statutory maximum). [91 FR 9437](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-03832)
- 2025-11-13: Agricultural products exempted from reciprocal tariffs (in effect). Executive Order 14360 of November 14, 2025 removed reciprocal duties from certain agricultural products listed in its annexes (coffee, cocoa, bananas, and other goods the U.S. does not produce in sufficient quantity), retroactive to November 13, 2025 — for all countries subject to the reciprocal tariff. [90 FR 54091](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-21203)
- 2025-06-04: Section 232 steel and aluminum duties doubled to 50% (in effect). The June 3, 2025 proclamation raised Section 232 duties on steel and aluminum articles and derivatives from 25% to 50% for all countries, effective June 4, 2025. [90 FR 24199](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-10524)
- 2025-04-05: Universal 10% reciprocal baseline takes effect (in effect, 10%). Executive Order 14257 (signed April 2, 2025) imposed a 10% ad valorem reciprocal duty on imports from all trading partners, effective April 5, 2025. Countries without a higher Annex I rate remain at this baseline. [Federal Register 2025-06063](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-06063)
- 2025-03-12: Section 232 steel and aluminum duties set at 25% for all countries (in effect). Proclamations of February 10, 2025 terminated all country exemptions and quota arrangements and applied 25% Section 232 duties to steel and aluminum imports from every country, effective March 12, 2025. [90 FR 9817](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-02833)

## The supply chain view

Southwest and California sits upstream of 1 essential American goods through 2 tracked inputs.

- [Interstate natural gas transmission pipelines](https://policyrisk.com/supplymap/input/interstate-natural-gas-pipelines) (energy): 15% share
- [Underground natural gas storage (depleted fields & salt caverns)](https://policyrisk.com/supplymap/input/underground-gas-storage) (energy): 12% share

## Sources
- [91 FR 18201](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/04/09/2026-06960/strengthening-actions-taken-to-adjust-imports-of-aluminum-steel-and-copper-into-the-united-states)
- [91 FR 9437](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/02/25/2026-03832/ending-certain-tariff-actions)
- [90 FR 54091](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/11/25/2025-21203/modifying-the-scope-of-the-reciprocal-tariffs-with-respect-to-certain-agricultural-products)
- [90 FR 24199](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/06/09/2025-10524/adjusting-imports-of-aluminum-and-steel-into-the-united-states)
- [Universal 10% reciprocal baseline takes effect](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/04/07/2025-06063/regulating-imports-with-a-reciprocal-tariff-to-rectify-trade-practices-that-contribute-to-large-and)
- [90 FR 9817](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/02/18/2025-02833/adjusting-imports-of-steel-into-the-united-states)

## Related
- [U.S. tariffs by country](https://policyrisk.com/tariffs)
- [All countries](https://policyrisk.com/countries)
- [Southwest and California on the supply map](https://policyrisk.com/supplymap/country/XW)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/countries/xw (as of 2026-11-04).