Trade, Export Controls & Sanctions
Annual Chinese imports covered by Section 301 tariffs alone
Maximum tariff rate on Chinese-origin electric vehicles
Section 301 tariff lists with rates from 7.5% to 100%
Regulation Overview
https://ustr.gov/issue-areas/enforcement/section-301-investigations/tariff-actions
Tariffs on Chinese imports are a layered system of US trade duties imposed under multiple legal authorities. For supply chain and compliance teams, the primary obligation is ensuring correct HTS classification, accurate country-of-origin determination, and proper duty calculation across overlapping tariff regimes—with documentation to support every claim. Section 301 tariffs cover approximately $370 billion in annual Chinese imports across four lists, with rates ranging from 7.5% to 100% depending on product category. Section 232 tariffs apply to steel, aluminum, automobiles, copper, and expanding product categories. A 10% Section 122 global baseline tariff took effect February 24, 2026. New Section 301 investigations launched in March 2026 may result in additional duties. Tariff compliance on Chinese imports requires product-level evidence—HTS codes, country-of-origin certificates, bill of materials data, and supplier declarations—across every import transaction. When rates change or exclusions expire, your entire import portfolio requires reassessment.
Key Components / Sub-Frameworks
US importers of record for Chinese-origin goods\nCustoms brokers filing entries on behalf of importers\nNon-US manufacturers shipping goods to the US market through US importers\nCompanies sourcing components from China for US-assembled products\nDistributors and retailers importing finished goods from China\nCompanies with global supply chains routing through China for any stage of production
Key Thresholds
Your product is classified under an HTS code covered by Section 301 List 3 at 7.5%. It also contains steel components subject to Section 232 at 25%. And now Section 122 adds 10% on top. Total duty: 42.5%—but only if your HTS classification and origin determination are correct. One error in classification and your actual liability could be higher or lower, with penalties either way.
Your company relies on 12 Section 301 exclusions covering $40 million in annual imports. Exclusions were extended through November 2026—but renewal is not guaranteed. When exclusions expire, tariff exposure increases overnight. Without continuous monitoring of Federal Register notices, you discover the change after the duties have already been assessed.
You source a component assembled in Vietnam from sub-components manufactured in China. Is the finished product of Chinese origin? CBP applies a substantial transformation test—but the analysis is fact-specific and inconsistent. Without documented supplier evidence of manufacturing processes and value-add at each stage, your origin claim is indefensible in a CBP audit.
Your product portfolio spans 5,000 SKUs imported under 300+ HTS codes. Each code determines which tariff lists apply and at what rate. USTR modifies covered product lists. Commerce expands Section 232 derivative products. A single HTS reclassification shifts duty exposure by tens of thousands of dollars per shipment. Manual tracking across this scale is unsustainable.
Certivo In Action
Certivo in Action — Tariff Compliance Workflow
From Manual Classification to Automated Tariff Intelligence
CORA collects, parses, and validates supplier origin data automatically. Your trade compliance team focuses on strategic sourcing decisions—not chasing certificates and recalculating duties in spreadsheets.
Trade Compliance Documentation Acceleration
Generate complete, audit-ready tariff documentation with origin evidence, HTS justification, and duty calculations in hours—not the weeks of manual compilation across brokers, suppliers, and internal teams.
Proactive Tariff Compliance Assurance
When USTR modifies Section 301 rates, Commerce expands Section 232 product scope, or exclusions expire, Certivo reassesses your portfolio instantly. Know your duty exposure before CBP does.
Key Statistics
Frequently Asked Questions
Which products are covered by Section 301 tariffs on Chinese imports?
Section 301 tariffs cover approximately $370 billion in annual Chinese imports across four lists. Lists 1 and 2 impose 25% on $50 billion of industrial goods. List 3 imposes 7.5% on $200 billion of consumer and industrial products. List 4A imposes 7.5% on $120 billion of apparel and footwear. List 4B (laptops, phones, toys) remains suspended. Targeted increases raise rates to 50%–100% on EVs, batteries, solar cells, semiconductors, and critical minerals. Certivo maps your entire HTS portfolio against all active Section 301 lists automatically.
What are the penalties for tariff non-compliance on Chinese imports?
CBP enforces tariff compliance through focused assessments, prior disclosures, and penalty proceedings. Penalties for negligent misclassification or origin misrepresentation can reach the domestic value of the merchandise. Fraud penalties can reach four times the lawful duties owed. CBP also pursues liquidated damages for bond insufficiency. Certivo maintains continuous audit-ready documentation to support every classification and origin claim.
How does Certivo handle tariff stacking across Section 301, 232, and 122?
Certivo calculates total duty exposure by mapping each product's HTS code against all applicable tariff authorities simultaneously. When a product is subject to Section 301, Section 232, and Section 122 duties, Certivo stacks the rates per CBP guidance, identifies exclusion eligibility, and generates a net duty calculation with full documentation. CORA monitors Federal Register notices for rate changes and alerts your team when exposure shifts.
Does Certivo support country-of-origin determinations for Chinese imports?
Yes. Certivo collects manufacturing process documentation, sub-component origin evidence, and value-add data from suppliers across multiple tiers. CORA extracts origin indicators and maps them to the substantial transformation test that CBP applies. This supports both tariff origin determinations and parallel requirements under UFLPA and BABA from a single supplier evidence campaign.
How do tariffs on Chinese imports interact with other trade compliance frameworks?
Tariffs on Chinese imports intersect with UFLPA (origin traceability for forced labour), Section 232 (national security tariffs on specific materials), AD/CVD (antidumping and countervailing duties), EAR (export controls), and BABA (domestic content). Certivo validates supplier evidence against multiple trade compliance frameworks simultaneously—so one origin documentation campaign satisfies tariff classification, forced labour traceability, and domestic content obligations.