US-China Tariff Rates in 2026: What Importers Actually Need to Know
Early 2026 reshuffled US-China tariffs in ways that caught a lot of importers flat-footed. The headline rates you saw last year aren't what you're actually paying now. Here's what's current, what the math looks like for your products, and what's still in motion.
In this guide
Current US Tariff Rates on Chinese Goods (March 2026)
Most goods imported from China right now face a combined tariff rate of roughly 17.5% to 35%, depending on the product category. Three overlapping tariff regimes explain that range:
| Tariff Layer | Rate | Status | Applies To |
|---|---|---|---|
| Section 122 (baseline) | 10% | Active (temporary — expires ~July 23, 2026) | Nearly all imports |
| Section 301 (China-specific) | 7.5–25% | Active (ongoing from Trump 1.0) | Varies by product HTS code |
| Section 232 (product-specific) | 25–50% | Active | Steel, aluminum, autos, copper, heavy trucks |
Source: Tax Foundation Tariff Tracker, March 2026. SCOTUSblog for IEEPA ruling analysis.
⚠ Quick note: The "82-104% China tariff" that got so much press in mid-2025 is no longer in effect. The Supreme Court struck down the IEEPA tariffs on February 20, 2026. The table above is what's actually active now.
The Three Tariff Layers Explained
1. Section 122: The 10% Baseline (Temporary)
Four days after the Supreme Court invalidated the IEEPA tariffs — February 24, 2026 — President Trump invoked Section 122 of the Trade Act to slap a 10% temporary tariff on nearly all US imports. This is a rarely-used emergency trade provision with a hard 150-day cap.
What you need to know:
- Duration: 150 days — expires around July 23, 2026
- Scope: Nearly all countries, not just China
- Legal basis: Section 122 stands on firmer legal ground than IEEPA
- Rate: Currently 10%, with some discussion of raising it to 15%
According to the Tax Foundation, this 10% baseline pushed the weighted-average applied US tariff rate to 10.2% — the highest it's been since the early 1970s.
2. Section 301: China-Specific Tariffs (7.5–25%)
The original trade war tariffs from Trump's first term, targeting Chinese goods only. Imposed in four rounds between 2018 and 2019 — and they never went away:
| Section 301 List | Rate | Products |
|---|---|---|
| List 1 (July 2018) | 25% | Industrial machinery, electronics components |
| List 2 (August 2018) | 25% | Chemicals, plastics, motorcycles |
| List 3 (various) | 25% | Furniture, auto parts, handbags, textiles |
| List 4A (various) | 7.5% | Consumer electronics, apparel, footwear |
Your rate depends on your product's HTS code. Consumer goods like clothing and electronics generally land on List 4A at 7.5%. Industrial goods are usually on Lists 1-3 at 25%. If you're not sure which list you're on, that's the first thing to figure out.
3. Section 232: Product-Specific Tariffs (25–50%)
These apply based on what the product is, not where it's from — though they hit China particularly hard since China dominates global steel and aluminum production:
| Product | Tariff Rate |
|---|---|
| Steel | 50% |
| Aluminum | 50% |
| Autos and auto parts | 25% |
| Copper | 50% |
| Heavy trucks and parts | ~25% |
| Furniture, kitchen cabinets, lumber | ~25% |
Section 232 stacks on top of everything else. Importing steel from China? That's 50% (Section 232) + 10% (Section 122) + 25% (Section 301) = 85% combined. That's not a typo.
How to Calculate Your Actual Duty
Three things determine your total duty:
- What your product is — determines which Section 301 list applies and whether Section 232 kicks in
- Your CIF value — product cost + shipping + insurance. Duty is calculated on this number, not just the product cost
- Whether any exemptions apply — some products have exclusions worth checking
Example: You're importing $10,000 in consumer electronics (List 4A) from China. Shipping is $1,500, insurance $200.
| Line Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Product cost | $10,000 |
| Shipping | $1,500 |
| Insurance | $200 |
| CIF Value | $11,700 |
| Section 122 (10%) | $1,170 |
| Section 301 List 4A (7.5%) | $877.50 |
| Total Duty | $2,047.50 |
| Total Landed Cost | $13,747.50 |
That's a 20.5% effective tariff rate on your product cost. Every $100 of electronics costs you $20.50 in duties on top of everything else.
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Try the Duty Calculator →Product-Specific Rates: The Section 232 Impact
If your product falls under Section 232, the math gets a lot worse. The Tax Foundation estimates Section 232 tariffs alone will cost the US economy 154,000 full-time equivalent jobs and reduce GDP by 0.2%.
The categories hit hardest:
- Steel products (50% tariff): Raw steel, steel pipe, structural steel, steel wire, nails, screws
- Aluminum products (50% tariff): Raw aluminum, aluminum extrusions, foil, cans, auto parts
- Automobiles (25% tariff): Complete vehicles, engines, transmissions, body panels
- Copper (50% tariff): Raw copper, copper wire, plumbing fittings
For these products, the combined tariff (Section 232 + Section 122 + Section 301) lands between 60% and 85%. Plan accordingly.
Timeline: How We Got Here
| Date | Event | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| 2018-2019 | Section 301 tariffs on China (Lists 1-4) | 7.5-25% on most Chinese goods |
| Mar 2025 | Section 232 tariffs expanded (steel, aluminum, autos) | 25-50% on specific product categories |
| Apr 2025 | "Liberation Day" — IEEPA tariffs announced | Reciprocal tariffs reached 82-145% on China |
| Jun 2025 | US-China deal — China tariff reduced to 20% | Some relief, but still high |
| Feb 20, 2026 | Supreme Court strikes down IEEPA tariffs | Reciprocal tariffs invalidated |
| Feb 24, 2026 | Section 122 — 10% baseline tariff | Replaced IEEPA with temporary 10% |
| ~Jul 23, 2026 | Section 122 expires (150 days) | Baseline drops unless renewed |
What's Coming Next
Things are still moving. Four developments to watch:
- Section 122 expiry (~July 23, 2026): The 10% baseline is temporary. If it expires without replacement, average tariff rates drop significantly. But the administration may extend it or find another mechanism — don't assume it disappears.
- Section 301 investigations: USTR has ongoing Section 301 investigations into 16+ countries. New product-specific tariffs on China and others are possible.
- Bilateral deals: The US has already negotiated reduced rates with Japan (15%), Vietnam (20%), Philippines/Indonesia (19%), and the UK (10%). More deals could shift sourcing economics.
- De minimis changes: The $800 duty-free threshold for small shipments is under pressure. Losing it would hit dropshippers and small importers hard.
💡 Worth bookmarking: We update our tariff calculator weekly with rates from government sources. Check it before placing any significant order — these numbers can shift.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
- Tax Foundation: 2026 Trump Tariffs & Trade War by the Numbers (March 2026)
- SCOTUSblog: Learning Resources v. Trump ruling analysis (February 2026)
- US Trade Representative: Press Releases
- US International Trade Commission: Harmonized Tariff Schedule
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Calculate Your Duty Free →Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or tax advice. Tariff rates change frequently. Always verify current rates with US Customs and Border Protection or a licensed customs broker before making import decisions. Rates in this article are accurate as of March 24, 2026.