The Section 301 tariffs 2026 landscape looks nothing like it did a year ago. When the Supreme Court ended the IEEPA tariffs in February, the administration rebuilt most of its tariff program on Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, a statute that has survived every court challenge since 2018. The result is that importers now face the original China action, a new global action covering roughly 60 economies, a separate Brazil action, and a queue of investigations that could add more. This guide lays out the current rates, the deadlines between now and year end, and what a compliance team should be doing about it.
The original China technology-transfer tariffs remain in force: 25 percent on Lists 1 through 3 and 7.5 percent on List 4A. The 2024 four-year review layered increases on top, and the last of those step-ups took effect January 1, 2026: non-EV lithium-ion batteries, permanent magnets, and natural graphite moved to 25 percent, medical gloves to 100 percent, and facemasks and respirators to 50 percent. Earlier increases already in place include 100 percent on EVs and syringes, 50 percent on semiconductors, solar cells, polysilicon, and wafers, and 25 percent on ship-to-shore cranes, steel and aluminum products, and critical minerals. The crane exception for units ordered before May 14, 2024 lapsed on May 14, 2026.
On top of that, the July 2026 global action added 12.5 percent to Chinese goods, so a List 1 product now carries an aggregate 37.5 percent in Section 301 duty before any Section 232 or antidumping exposure. USTR opened the second statutory four-year review on May 6, 2026. Trade counsel and USTR practice both indicate the tariffs are continuing through the review, but importers should confirm the current status on USTR’s four-year review page rather than assume.
Effective July 24, 2026, USTR imposed new Section 301 duties following a forced-labor investigation covering about 60 economies, timed to take over the day the 150-day Section 122 surcharge expired. The rate is 10 percent for one group of trading partners including Canada, Mexico, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Pakistan, and the United Kingdom, and 12.5 percent for most others including China, Vietnam, Thailand, and Brazil. The EU and Taiwan are capped at 10 percent inclusive of the normal MFN rate, and Japan, Korea, and Switzerland at 12.5 percent inclusive. USMCA-qualifying goods, products already subject to Section 232, pharmaceuticals, civil aircraft, and a list of raw materials are exempt. CBP guidance is in CSMS #69326983. Two lawsuits challenging the action are pending at the Court of International Trade, but the duties are payable now.
USTR extended 178 China exclusions (164 general exclusions plus 14 for solar manufacturing equipment) through 11:59 p.m. EST on November 9, 2026 under HTS 9903.88.69 and 9903.88.70. No further extension has been announced. If any of your SKUs clear under those headings, model your landed cost both ways now. Our landed cost calculator lets you run the with-exclusion and without-exclusion scenarios side by side, and our guide to HTS codes and duty rates explains how the 9903 chapter overlays work.
Argents has cleared imports as a licensed U.S. customs broker for nearly 50 years, and because we also run freight forwarding and fulfillment from Argents-operated warehouses in Chicago, Seattle-Tacoma, and Charleston, our brokerage team sees the tariff impact on the full landed cost, not just the entry. If you want a review of your current classifications and 301 exposure before the November deadlines, contact our customs team. For the related antidumping and countervailing duty picture, see our 2026 AD/CVD update.
Lists 1 through 3 carry 25 percent and List 4A carries 7.5 percent, with product-specific increases of up to 100 percent from the four-year review. The July 24, 2026 global action added 12.5 percent on top, for an aggregate 37.5 percent on List 1 through 3 goods.
The 178 remaining exclusions under HTS 9903.88.69 and 9903.88.70 expire at 11:59 p.m. EST on November 9, 2026 unless USTR extends them again.
About 60 economies. Rates are 10 percent for one group including Canada, Mexico, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the UK, and 12.5 percent for most others including China, Vietnam, Thailand, and Brazil. USMCA-qualifying goods and Section 232 products are exempt.
Section 301 duties on the China action have been drawback-eligible since 2018. The July 2026 notices did not address drawback for the new actions, so confirm treatment with your broker before relying on it.
Section 301 has survived every court challenge since 2018. Two suits challenging the July 24, 2026 action are pending at the Court of International Trade, but the duties remain in force and must be paid at entry.