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Updated May 2026

US-China Tariff Update 2026

Current effective tariff rates on Chinese imports, the status of Section 301 duties after the 2025 truce, de minimis elimination, and what it all means for your landed cost calculations.

Section 301 rates confirmedReciprocal tariff at 10%De minimis eliminated for ChinaExclusion process open 2026

Effective May 2026 — Key Numbers

Section 301 tariffs: 7.5%–25% (unchanged by 2025 truce) · Reciprocal tariff: 10% (reduced from 34% under May 2025 framework deal) · Combined effective rate on most goods: 17.5%–35% · De minimis for China: eliminated (in force since Q4 2025)

2025–2026 Tariff Timeline

Jan 2025

Section 301 List 3 & 4A rates confirmed at 25% — no rollback despite trade talks

Apr 2025

Executive Order adds 34% reciprocal tariff on top of existing Section 301 duties

May 2025

US-China Geneva truce: reciprocal tariffs paused 90 days — Section 301 remains

Jul 2025

90-day pause expires. Reciprocal tariff drops to 10% as part of limited framework deal

Jan 2026

Section 301 exclusion process reopened for 352 HTS subheadings — application window open

May 2026

Current effective rate: Section 301 (7.5%–25%) + 10% reciprocal baseline = 17.5%–35% total on most goods

Current Tariff Rates by Category — China → US (May 2026)

Section 301 + 10% reciprocal baseline. Anti-dumping/CVD not included.

Product CategorySection 301ReciprocalTotal
Consumer electronics (8471, 8517)0%10%~10%
Apparel & footwear (61, 62, 64)7.5%–15%10%17.5%–25%
Machinery & industrial equipment (84)7.5%–25%10%17.5%–35%
Steel & aluminum products (72, 73, 76)25%10%35%+
Furniture (94)25%10%35%
Solar panels (8541)25%10%35%
Auto parts (87)25%10%35%
Medical devices (90)0%–7.5%10%10%–17.5%

Rates as of May 2026. Verify exact rate at 10-digit HTS level. Anti-dumping and countervailing duties (AD/CVD) are additive and not shown.

What Importers Should Do Now

01

File Section 301 exclusions

If your product qualifies (unavailable outside China, severe economic harm), apply through USTR's current 2026 window. Approval takes 4–8 months but grants retroactive refunds.

02

Verify your HTS at 10 digits

Rates vary dramatically within the same HS chapter. HS 8471.30 (laptops) = 0% S301 vs HS 8471.49 (other storage units) = 7.5%. Always verify the full 10-digit code.

03

Model alternative sourcing

Vietnam, India, Mexico, and Thailand have absorbed significant China manufacturing. Analyze total landed cost (including freight premium) before switching — some China rates are still lower.

04

Update your landed cost models

If you're still using 2023 or 2024 rate assumptions, your landed costs are wrong. The April 2025 reciprocal tariff round changed effective rates across thousands of HTS codes.

05

Watch de minimis enforcement

The $800 threshold is gone for Chinese goods. Direct-to-consumer models sourcing from China must now factor full customs processing costs into per-unit economics.

06

Document country of origin carefully

CBP has aggressively pursued transshipment (goods routed through Vietnam, Malaysia to avoid China tariffs). Ensure substantial transformation occurs in the third country and maintain robust documentation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Zentria Flow

Calculate Your Exact China Import Cost

Enter your HTS code and shipment value — Zentria Flow applies current 2026 rates including Section 301 and reciprocal tariffs automatically.

Zentria Brain