Current US-China Tariff Rates 2026: Duties on Chinese Goods
If you're trying to find current US-China tariff rates in 2026, the practical question is usually: what US duty applies to goods from China under this exact HTS code? For many Chinese imports, the answer is a stacked calculation: the temporary Section 122 baseline, any China-specific Section 301 duty, and any product-specific Section 232 duty that applies.
Current US-China tariff rates snapshot (April 2026)
- Most Chinese consumer and industrial goods still require a stacked rate check, often landing in the 17.5% to 35% planning range before special categories and fees.
- Section 301 remains the main China-specific layer; the exact rate depends on the HTS code and tariff list.
- Section 122 adds a temporary 10% baseline while it is in effect; Tax Foundation tracks it as scheduled for 150 days from February 24, 2026.
- Section 232 can push steel, aluminum, autos, auto parts, copper, and other covered categories much higher.
Quick answer: current US-China tariff rates in 2026 are not one universal number. For US imports from China, check the HTS base rate, the temporary Section 122 baseline while in effect, China-specific Section 301, and product-specific Section 232. For landed-cost planning, use the free duty calculator.
In this guide
Current US-China Tariff Rates on Chinese Goods (April 2026)
Most goods imported from China right now face a combined tariff rate of roughly 17.5% to 35%, depending on the product category. That is the planning range behind searches like “current US tariff rates on Chinese imports” or “China tariff rate by product.” Three overlapping tariff regimes explain the 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 |
⚠ Quick note: The triple-digit China tariff headlines from the IEEPA period are not the right planning number for most importers today. What is generally live now is the 10% Section 122 baseline plus any Section 301 and Section 232 duties that apply to your HTS code and product category.
Refresh note: checked against USTR, CBP, USITC, and Tax Foundation sources on April 30, 2026. The page now leads with the query readers are actually using: current US-China tariff rates and US duties on Chinese goods.
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.
Model the China tariff stack before you buy
TariffShield is for pre-checkout catalog readiness and margin planning: organize HTS/origin data, compare China duty scenarios, and decide whether repricing is needed before the PO lands.
Install TariffShield →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 could also extend it or replace it through another mechanism.
- Section 301 list and exclusion changes: The USTR Section 301 page remains the best place to watch for official tariff-action updates, exclusion guidance, and list-level changes.
- Section 232 expansions: Product-specific national-security tariffs can change the math quickly for metals, autos, and other covered categories, so importers need to watch category-level updates instead of relying on a single headline rate.
- De minimis changes: The $800 duty-free threshold for small shipments is still politically vulnerable. If it changes, low-value ecommerce and dropship flows get hit first.
💡 Worth bookmarking: We update our tariff calculator weekly with rates from government sources. Check it before placing any significant order — these numbers can shift.
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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 and examples in this article were refreshed on April 30, 2026.