If you’re importing products from China now, you probably already know the landscape has never been more complicated. Let’s shed some light on what 2026 holds for China-to-U.S. import duties and tariffs.
Import tax from China to the USA isn’t just a single fee, but a stack of charges.
This short guide breaks down what those charges are in 2026, what’s changed recently, and how to calculate your total duty before you ship.
Key Points To Remember:
- Import taxes (China to US) are a stack of charges, not a single fee.
- To calculate them, start with your basic HTS code, then add any extra tariffs.
- Base HTS duty for China imports can range from 0% to 37.5% (most often 2.5%-6%).
- Section 301: extra tariff on many China-origin goods (trade dispute), often 7.5% or 25%.
- Section 232: security tariff (protects key industries) often metals.
- IEEPA: emergency tariff (policy response), rate varies.
- AD/CVD: unfair pricing/subsidy duties (can be very high).
- Furniture: base duty may be “Free,” but 301/232/AD/CVD can still apply
What Is The Import Tax From China To USA
When you import from China, you may encounter a mix of charges collected by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Rather than a single fee, there’s a cumulative set of duties, including:
- The standard import duty based on your product’s classification (HTS – Harmonized Tariff Schedule).
- Extra tariffs, like Section 301 – China-specific duty.
- Other special tariffs tied to government actions, including Section 232 (national security) and IEEPA-based measures, etc.
When you add everything up, import duties from China to USA on certain products like basic apparel can reach up to 50% of the shipment’s value – or even more.
Standard vs. Additional Tariffs For U.S. Imports
Standard tariffs (HTS duties) are the primary duties imposed on all imports entering the U.S. HTS duty rates are product-specific and generally range from 0% to a maximum of around 37.5%, with most everyday consumer goods typically falling between 2.5% and 6%.
Additional tariffs are applied on top of the standard HTS duties. These surcharges are added cumulatively to the standard tariffs to address specific trade issues.
For most countries that have normal trade relations with the U.S., the HTS “General” (MFN/Column 1) duty rates apply. For goods imported from China, these same base rates still apply, but many products also face extra tariffs due to ongoing trade measures.
Types Of Import Duties From China To USA
To figure out the import taxes from China to the USA, you must consider several categories of different duties:
- Standard HTS Duty: The baseline rate based on product classification, typically ranging from 0% to 37.5%, though most consumer goods fall between 2.5% and 6%.
- Section 301 Tariffs: Major surcharges of 7.5% or 25% – and in some strategic sectors like EVs, up to 100% – imposed in response to unfair trade practices.
- Section 232 Tariffs: National security-related duties often targeting steel (50%), aluminum (50%), and copper (50%).
- IEEPA Tariffs: Emergency duties, including a 10% fentanyl-related tariff and a 10% reciprocal baseline tariff.
- Excise Taxes: Quantity-based federal taxes on specific goods like alcohol ($13.50 per proof gallon) or tobacco ($1.01 per pack).
Recent Tariff Updates And Exclusions (As Of Early 2026)
As of early 2026, the U.S. tariff landscape remains volatile.
A key update is a new 25% Section 232 tariff on certain advanced computing chips and derivative products, effective January 15, 2026, with carve-outs for specific end uses such as U.S.-based R&D, startups, and non-data-center consumer applications.
For China sourcing, USTR has extended certain Section 301 exclusions for 178 items through November 10, 2026.
The IEEPA-based tariffs described in earlier versions of this guide, including the broad reciprocal tariff and the China/Hong Kong fentanyl tariff, were struck down by the Supreme Court on February 20, 2026. See the 2026 Tariff Timeline section below for what replaced them and what is still being litigated.
2026 Tariff Timeline: From IEEPA to Section 122
The tariff picture changed twice already this year, and both changes matter for anyone importing from China.
On February 20, 2026, the Supreme Court ruled that the emergency tariffs imposed under IEEPA, including the broad reciprocal tariff and the fentanyl-related tariff on Chinese goods, were unlawful. Four days later, on February 24, the administration replaced them with a new 10% surcharge under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, a different legal authority with its own limits. That measure did not survive unchallenged either: the Court of International Trade ruled it unlawful too on May 7, 2026, though it remains in effect while the government appeals. Section 122 authority expires on July 24, 2026 unless Congress extends it.
None of this touches Section 301 or Section 232 tariffs, which sit outside this legal fight and remain in force on their own terms. What it does mean is that the IEEPA rate many importers built into their 2025 cost models is no longer the right number to use, and whatever replaces Section 122 after July 24 could shift again. Confirm your product’s current rate with a customs broker or the calculator before you quote a customer, not from a landed cost spreadsheet built even a few months ago.
This is a legally contested, fast-moving area. Treat the dates above as current as of publication, not as a permanent rate, and update this section again once Section 122’s fate is settled.
Import Duty On Furniture From China To USA
While the base import duty on furniture from China to the USA for many items, including certain household chairs and wooden dining tables, can be officially “Free” under the HTS, the reality is often different once extra measures apply.
Wooden bedroom furniture from China can face extra “anti-dumping” duties. For some exporters, the rate may be in the low single digits or teens, but for others it can be much higher – in some cases up to 216.01% – depending on the exporter and review status.
In addition, Section 232 tariffs currently apply a 25% duty to upholstered wooden furniture and on kitchen cabinets/vanities, while the planned hikes to 30% and 50%, respectively, have been postponed until January 1, 2027.
How To Calculate Import Duty From China To USA
To calculate import duty from China to the USA, start with the shipment’s customs (entered) value (usually the price the importer pays for the goods), then apply the relevant duty rates.
- Determine The HTS Code: Use the 10-digit classification to find the base (“General/MFN”) duty rate.
- Check Chapter 99 Add-ons: Confirm whether your HTS code also requires a Chapter 99 number for Section 301 or other trade remedies.
- Add Applicable Rates: Combine the base HTS rate with any applicable additional duties (e.g., Section 301, IEEPA, and other product-specific measures where relevant).
- Calculate Total Charges: Multiply the entered value by the combined ad valorem duty rate(s), then add applicable fees such as the Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF) – minimum and maximum thresholds apply.
When To Calculate Section 301 Duties: China & Other Source Countries
Section 301 tariffs apply to a wide range of products covered under four major tranches introduced since 2018. These tranches are List 1 (~$34B), List 2 (~$16B), List 3 (~$200B), and List 4 (~$300B, split into 4A/4B), where the “$B” figures refer to the approximate value of Chinese imports covered by each tranche.
So, importers should apply Section 301 duties when their product’s 10-digit HTS classification also requires a Chapter 99 secondary classification (commonly under HTS heading 9903) that triggers the additional duty for China-origin goods.
Following USTR’s statutory four-year review and subsequent modifications, certain strategic categories moved to higher Section 301 rates, including solar cells at 50% (effective in 2024) and semiconductors at 50% (effective in 2025).
Anti-Dumping/Countervailing Duties (AD/CVD)
AD/CVD orders are imposed to protect domestic industries from imports sold at less than fair value (dumped) or subsidized by foreign governments. When an order applies, additional duties are collected by CBP.
China accounted for roughly ~230 AD/CVD orders in force on October 1, 2024, and some cases involved duty rates exceeding 200%.
As noted above, AD/CVD duties are assessed in addition to any other applicable duties and tariffs (such as standard HTS duties) and, where applicable, Section 301 duties.
Import Duties Exemption & The De Minimis Shift
Prior to 2025, the “de minimis” rule allowed shipments valued at $800 or less to enter the U.S. duty-free from any source country.
However, this exemption was eliminated for China and Hong Kong on May 2, 2025, and for all other countries on August 29, 2025. Current exemptions are extremely narrow, limited to unsolicited gifts under $100 and temporary imports for repair or exhibition.
Instead of “light” clearance, many low-value shipments now move through formal or informal entry processes, requiring more complete data, more consistent HTS classification, and tighter origin documentation.
In practice, this often increases processing friction and raises the operational bar for e-commerce models that previously relied on high-volume, low-value direct-to-consumer shipping from China.
Duties and Taxes Payment Methods
Import duties, taxes, and fees are most commonly paid electronically, often through a customs broker’s statement using ACH.
CBP also supports other payment methods depending on the type of charge:
- ACH (Automated Clearinghouse): Common electronic method for paying CBP duties/taxes/fees.
- Pay.gov / eCBP (for certain CBP bills/fees): Used for specific CBP payments, such as paying a CBP-issued bill online through Pay.gov using ACH.
- In-person payment at designated locations (limited cases): CBP regulations allow collection by U.S. currency/coin and approved check types.
Refund note (separate): Starting February 6, 2026, CBP issues refunds electronically via ACH (with limited exceptions).
How to Legally Reduce Your China Import Duty
Once you know what you owe, the next question is whether you can lower it without cutting corners.
Start with the Section 301 exclusion list. USTR has extended exclusions for 178 product categories through November 10, 2026, so check your HTS code against that list before assuming the standard surcharge applies. A Foreign Trade Zone works differently: goods held in an FTZ do not trigger duty until they leave the zone for US consumption, which helps if you are re-exporting part of a shipment or holding inventory before a decision on final destination. If you do re-export goods after paying duty, duty drawback lets you claim some of that money back, though the paperwork is detailed enough that most importers use a customs broker to file it.
The longer-term lever is sourcing. Shifting even part of your supply chain to a second country, sometimes called a “China plus one” strategy, does not eliminate the need to manage tariffs, but it changes which tariffs apply and gives you a hedge the next time a rate changes overnight. None of these routes are instant, and none replace getting your HTS classification right in the first place. Layered together, though, they are the difference between absorbing every rate change and having room to plan around it.
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FAQs
How Much Are Duties From China To USA (2026)?
The total customs tax from China to the USA varies significantly by product category. While some items remain duty-free at the baseline (HTS “General”/MFN) level, duties on China-origin goods are often higher because multiple trade measures can apply cumulatively.
In January 2026, for example, the U.S. introduced a 25% Section 232 duty on certain advanced computing chips (and certain derivative products). Some analyses estimated the effective tariff rate on Chinese goods entering the U.S. at about 29.3% in November 2025
Is China Suspending The 24% Tariff On US Goods?
China agreed to suspend a 24% retaliatory tariff on some U.S. goods for about one year (through around November 2026) while keeping a 10% levy.
How To Calculate Import Duty In The USA?
Use the shipment’s entered/customs value (usually the price paid/payable under U.S. rules). Find the HTS base rate, add any Chapter 99 add-ons (e.g., Section 301), multiply by the entered value, then add fees like MPF (Merchandise Processing Fee) and also HMF (Harbor Maintenance Fee) for ocean freight.
What Is The Tariff On Chinese Goods Imported To The Usa?
There isn’t one single tariff. Rates depend on HTS code and origin: base HTS duty plus Section 301 additional duties for many China-origin products (often 7.5% or 25%), and other programs may apply by product (e.g., 232, AD/CVD).