China Tariffs in 2025–2026: A Plain-English Breakdown
Anyone importing from China has probably noticed the effects of Section 301 duties building up over the last several years — and the rules aren't done changing. This guide lays out where China tariffs currently stand, skipping the legal jargon, so you can budget your costs with confidence.
What Is Section 301?
Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 gives the US Trade Representative authority to impose tariffs when foreign countries engage in unfair trade practices. That authority has been in active use since 2018, adding extra tariffs — anywhere from 7.5% up to more than 100% in certain cases — on thousands of products originating in China, stacked on top of the standard duty rates.
These extra duties are grouped into 'Lists' (List 1, 2, 3, and 4A), with each list covering a different set of product categories and carrying its own additional duty percentage.
Which Products Are Affected?
The reach is broad: electronics, furniture, apparel, machinery, auto parts, and industrial components are among the categories most commonly caught up. Certain product lines have picked up exclusions or exemptions along the way, while others have seen their rates climb even higher — especially goods tied to national security concerns, such as semiconductors and EV batteries.
Because how a tariff applies comes down to the 10-digit HTS code, two products that look nearly identical can end up with very different duty rates. That's exactly why getting classification right matters so much — our HS Classification service can help you nail it down.
How to Calculate Your True Landed Cost
Your total duty exposure isn't just the base HTS rate anymore. You'll need to factor in the base duty rate, any Section 301 add-on that applies, Section 232 tariffs (relevant if your goods contain steel, aluminum, or certain other materials), and the Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF).
Take a product with a 3% base duty that also falls under a 25% Section 301 list — that combination works out to a 28% combined duty rate, and that's before MPF and any freight-related charges are added in.
Strategies to Reduce Your Exposure
Tariff engineering — legally adjusting a product so it qualifies under a lower-duty HTS code — is one legitimate approach our brokers regularly help clients assess.
First Sale Valuation is another option, lowering your dutiable value when a supply chain involves multiple sales (say, factory to trading company to you), since duty is assessed on value rather than quantity alone.
And some importers are reworking their supply chains altogether to source from countries covered by USMCA, KORUS, or other trade agreements — though that path demands careful country-of-origin documentation to hold up under CBP scrutiny.
China tariff policy keeps shifting, and sometimes with barely any warning. Advante tracks USTR and CBP announcements every day and reaches out to clients proactively whenever a change touches their HTS codes. Not sure how the current tariffs apply to your products? Our classification team can put together a full landed-cost analysis for you.