What tariffs apply to Chinese goods now?
There is no single rate. Duty on a Chinese-origin good is a stack: the base tariff for its HS code, plus any product-specific trade measures, plus any economy-wide measure currently in force. Each layer sits under a different legal authority with a different lifespan, so the total moves. Your HS code determines your rate.
This area changes quickly. The explanation below is written to stay true as the numbers move, and deliberately avoids quoting a rate or threshold that would age badly. Check the official sources at the foot of this page, and confirm with a licensed professional before you rely on it. Last checked 23 August 2026.
This page explains the structure and does not state current rates. US trade measures have been added, removed, litigated and replaced repeatedly since 2025 — including measures struck down by the courts and re-imposed under different authority. Any specific percentage published here would have a short shelf life and a long memory. Use the official sources at the foot of the page, and have a licensed customs broker confirm before you price anything.
Why there is no single number
People ask “what is the tariff on China” expecting one figure, the way you would ask about a VAT rate. Duty does not work like that. What lands on your shipment is the sum of separate measures, each imposed under its own statute, each covering a different list of goods, and each with its own political and legal lifespan. Two products from the same factory in the same container can attract very different totals.
| Layer | What decides whether it applies to you | How stable is it? |
|---|---|---|
| Base tariff for the HS code | Your product’s classification | Stable — changes rarely |
| Product-specific trade measures | Whether your HS code is on a published list | Moderate — lists are revised on review cycles |
| Sector measures (metals, vehicles, and similar) | Product category and material content | Moderate |
| Economy-wide measures | Country of origin alone | Volatile — these are the ones that come and go |
| Trade-remedy duties (anti-dumping, countervailing) | Product and sometimes the specific exporter | Case-by-case, long-lived once imposed |
Three things that surprise first-time importers
- The importer of record pays, not the seller and not the marketplace. If you are the importer, the duty is your cost, whatever your supplier quoted.
- Classification is your responsibility and your liability. A supplier’s suggested HS code is a starting point, not a defence.
- Origin is not the same as the shipping address. Where goods were substantially transformed decides origin, and moving final assembly to a third country does not automatically change it.
What we do and do not do here
We are not customs brokers and do not classify goods, value shipments, request rulings or file refund claims. What we can do is map the measures currently touching your product categories with dates and sources, and gather the supplier-side evidence your broker will ask for — production records, material declarations, capability evidence and origin documentation. The determination stays with a licensed professional.
Want this done rather than explained?
What is actually landing on your product, and what your broker will ask for — from US$350, 5–8 working days.
Sources
- Office of the United States Trade Representative
- U.S. International Trade Commission — Harmonized Tariff Schedule
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection
- European Commission — TARIC database
All sources checked 23 August 2026. This page is general information, not legal, tax or customs advice. Requirements vary by product, market and circumstance — confirm your own position before acting.
