US Tariffs on Chinese Goods
China to US Tariffs: What You Actually Pay
Freight is only half your landed cost. For goods from China, US import duties stack in layers — and the total is often 3–5 times the base rate. Your rate depends on your product’s HTS code, its origin, and which trade-remedy programs it falls under. Here is the full stack, as of August 2026:
| Tariff Layer | Rate | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|
| Base (MFN) duty | 0%–32% | Set by your product’s 10-digit HTS code. Many electronics sit near 0%; housewares run 0–5%; apparel runs 10–32%. |
| Section 301 China tariffs | 7.5%–100% | Lists 1–3 (machinery, electronics, furniture): 25%. List 4A consumer goods: 7.5%. Semiconductors and solar: 50%. EVs: 100%. |
| Section 301 forced-labor duty | +12.5% | New since July 24, 2026. Applies to nearly all mainland China and Hong Kong origin goods (HTSUS 9903.05.31), stacked on top of every existing rate. |
| Section 232 | 25%–50% | Steel, aluminum, copper and their derivatives. Autos and auto parts run 25%. |
| AD/CVD (anti-dumping) | up to 200%+ | Specific targeted goods: mattresses, wooden cabinets, tiles, quartz surfaces. |
These layers add up, they don’t replace each other. A common consumer product with an 8% base duty that sits on Section 301 List 3 now pays 8% + 25% + 12.5% = 45.5% — before MPF and HMF fees. Rules of thumb: electronics accessories usually land in the 20–35% range, housewares 37–45%, and apparel can exceed 50%. Only an exact HTS classification tells you your number.
Worked Example: $10,000 of Goods
Say you import $10,000 worth of textiles (CIF value) — table linens, for example, with an 8% base duty and a 25% Section 301 rate. Here is the complete import charge stack you pay at clearance:
| Charge | Calculation | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Customs duty (MFN 8%) | $10,000 × 8% | $800.00 |
| Section 301 List 3 tariff | $10,000 × 25% | $2,500.00 |
| Section 301 forced-labor duty | $10,000 × 12.5% | $1,250.00 |
| Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF) | $10,000 × 0.3464% | $34.64 |
| Harbor Maintenance Fee (HMF) | $10,000 × 0.125% | $12.50 |
| Total import charges | 45.97% of goods value | $4,597.14 |
That’s $4,597 in import charges on a $10,000 order — nearly half again on top of the goods value, and it scales linearly. If your freight quote looks cheap but nobody has calculated this stack, your real landed cost is a blind spot. Get the HTS code from your supplier before you book anything.
Customs Fees Beyond Duty
Duty is not the only thing customs collects. These fees apply to every formal entry regardless of tariff rate, and first-time importers routinely miss them when budgeting:
| Fee | How It’s Charged | Typical Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF) | 0.3464% of shipment value, per formal entry | Min $31.67 · max $614.35 |
| Harbor Maintenance Fee (HMF) | 0.125% of shipment value, ocean freight only | No cap — air freight is exempt |
| Customs brokerage | Per entry, filed in CBP’s ACE system by a licensed broker | $100–$300 per shipment |
| ISF “10+2” late filing | Penalty for missing the 24-hour pre-boarding deadline (ocean) | Up to $5,000 per occurrence |
| Customs bond | Required on every formal entry | $50–$300 single entry · ~$300–$500/yr continuous |
The $800 De Minimis Exemption Is Gone
For years, any parcel valued under $800 entered the US duty-free with no formal entry — the foundation of the direct-from-China e-commerce model. That loophole has closed, step by step:
May 2025 — de minimis ended for China and Hong Kong origin goods.August 2025 — extended to every country, every parcel.May 2026 — the T86 simplified clearance channel was abolished; no fast lane remains.June 2026 — CBP codified the suspension in federal regulation, making it indefinite. Reversal now requires an act of Congress.
What it means in practice: every commercial parcel from China now needs a formal customs entry with HTS classification, a licensed broker, and full duty payment. That adds $20–$60 per parcel in brokerage and fees before duty — which kills per-order direct shipping economics for most products. The playbook that works now: bulk-import inventory (one entry, one fee stack, spread across thousands of units) into a US warehouse, then fulfill domestically. Our Air DDP and Sea DDP door-to-door rates are built exactly for this model — duties, clearance and delivery bundled into one per-kg price.
How to Keep Your Duty Bill Under Control
You can’t negotiate tariff rates, but you can make sure you don’t pay more than the law requires. Four moves that matter:
1. Classify correctly — and specifically. Duty is driven by the 10-digit HTS code, not the product category. Similar products often sit on different Section 301 lists with rates 17.5 points apart. A binding ruling from CBP ($0 cost, ~30 days) locks in your classification and eliminates audit risk.
2. Declare true value, every time. Low declaration to shrink the duty base is the fastest way to get cargo seized, fined, and flagged for every future shipment. CBP’s ACE system cross-checks invoices, ISF and bills of lading automatically — mismatches surface in days, not years.
3. Check the exemption lists before assuming the worst. The July 2026 forced-labor duty exempts several hundred HTS lines — pharmaceuticals, civil aircraft parts, many steel/aluminum items already covered by Section 232. Semiconductors, laptops and smartphones carry no classic Section 301 list duty. Your category may stack less than you think.
4. Consolidate entries, not just cargo. MPF is charged per formal entry — five LCL shipments a month pay five minimum fees. Consolidating into fewer, larger entries (or one weekly FCL) cuts repetitive fees and brokerage costs. Ask us to model the break-even against your inventory needs.
Rates and rules above reflect US federal register publications and CBP guidance as of August 2026. Tariff policy is moving fast in 2026 — confirm current rates with your broker before pricing landed cost.
Ship Smart, Clear Smoothly
From tariff classification to DDP door-to-door delivery, we handle the compliance so your cargo never sits at the border.
Get a Free Quote