Tariffs for Importing Chinese Products to America

Updated May 22, 2025

Increase in China-US Imports Following Reduction of US Tariffs

A surge in sea shipments from China to the United States – following a 90-day truce in the US-China trade conflict – is causing severe port congestion and container shortages across Asia, particularly in China, report shipping companies. The delays are extending to ports in South Korea (Busan), Japan (Tokyo, Yokohama), and Southeast Asia.

Leading freight shipping carriers have begun reactivating previously suspended China-US container services; however, in the short term, space remains limited as many ships had been reassigned to other routes during the slowdown phase. As the peak season approaches, market conditions remain extremely dynamic.
 

Key Points for Planning Import Shipments from China to the United States

• Risks of Port Congestion in the USA The increase in import volumes from China to the United States will put pressure on American port infrastructure, road transport, railways, and chassis availability in California ports. With larger ships in rotation and slowed operational performance, delays and additional costs could extend for several months.
• Consider Split Shipments With rising shipping rates and strong demand, air shipping offers a strategic alternative for time-sensitive or high-value products. Moving part of the cargo by air allows for meeting urgent needs, leaving the rest by sea.
• Book Space Well in Advance and confirm alternative schedules to reduce the risk of transshipment.
• Monitor Congestion Indicators (dwell time, chassis utilization, rail delivery times) in key ports like Los Angeles/Long Beach, Oakland, and Seattle/Tacoma.
• Evaluate Spot and Contract Rates to identify economic opportunity windows; consider guaranteed volume contracts (MCC, GA) to stabilize costs.
• Integrate multimodal solutions (rail-truck, air-sea) into supply chain flows to mitigate the impact of maritime delays.
• Strengthen communication with Asian suppliers and shippers to ensure the availability of equipment (dry and reefer containers) and export-ready documentation.

By adopting a proactive and flexible approach, it is possible to mitigate the effects of congestion and maintain supply chain continuity during this period of trans-Pacific turbulence.

Updated May 12, 2025

Concluded Yesterday a Drastic Reduction in Reciprocal Tariffs Between the US and China

 Reciprocal tariffs introduced by President Trump will decrease from 145% to 10%. Beijing, in turn, will reduce tariff countermeasures on US goods imports from 125% to 10% marking a surprising de-escalation of trade tensions between the world's two largest economies. The US and China will also establish a permanent consultation mechanism to monitor the evolution of trade relations, as announced at the end of two days of negotiations in Geneva. However, the 20% US tariff related to fentanyl remains unchanged. Consequently, most Chinese imports to the United States will continue to pay a total import duty of 30%. Additional sectoral tariffs on steel, aluminum, automobiles, and certain categories of goods imposed during Trump's first term and later by the Biden administration remain in effect. The decided reductions will have an initial duration of 90 days, during which negotiations will continue.

Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng confirmed that Beijing will suspend or cancel a wide range of non-tariff countermeasures, including potential export restrictions on critical minerals used in battery production and other high-tech applications. Bilateral trade had nearly halted since the beginning of the year, as high tariffs compromised the supply chains of companies of all sizes that rely on Chinese manufacturing.

Following the agreement, the leaders of the state-owned company Cosco Shipping will schedule a trip to Washington this week for talks with US officials. Chinese President Xi Jinping also sent Wang Xiaohong, his chief public security adviser, to Geneva to emphasize the centrality of the fentanyl issue in the bilateral dialogue.

Updated April 16, 2025

The tariffs imposed on imports to America of goods and merchandise from China have reached, and sometimes exceeded, 145%. China is responding by raising tariffs on imports to China of goods from the United States to 125%.

US tariffs on imports from China have skyrocketed, including:

- A reciprocal tariff of 125%,  
- A 20% tariff introduced to address the fentanyl crisis,  
- Additional tariffs ranging from 7.5% to 100% provided under Section 301 only on certain goods.

On April 13, 2025, however, President Donald Trump's administration granted a tariff exemption for smartphones, computers, and other electronic devices, primarily imported from China, offering significant relief to major tech companies like Apple that heavily depend on these imported products.

China stated that it is evaluating the impact of these exemptions. In a statement released on Sunday, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce called the exemption a "small step by the United States to correct their erroneous practice of unilateral 'reciprocal' tariffs."

Updated March 13, 2025

The Trump Administration imposes a new increase in tariffs for importing products from China to America. The increase, implemented in two waves of 10% each, totals 20% and adds to the tariffs imposed on Chinese-produced goods already by the first Trump presidency and never revoked by the subsequent Biden administration.

It should be noted that while the first wave of tariffs was focused only on certain categories of goods, the 20% increase recently imposed by President Trump applies to all imports from China to the United States without exception.

In this context, it becomes even more advantageous to consider importing from China using the American import procedure known as the First Sale Rule, which allows the calculation of US import duties based on the purchase price from the Chinese producer rather than the invoice price used for US customs clearance. For clarity, we remind that the FSR provisions apply to imports to the USA from any country, not just China.

The FSR is especially advantageous when US import duties are high. Categories of goods such as textile fibers, footwear, and apparel are those on which, on average, the United States imposes the highest import duties, offering the greatest potential for duty reduction for imports from China to the United States.

Executive Order 14195—Imposing Duties To Address the Synthetic Opioid Supply Chain in the People's Republic of China

FURTHER AMENDMENT TO DUTIES ADDRESSING THE SYNTHETIC OPIOID SUPPLY CHAIN IN THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

Updated April 21, 2022

New Customs Rules: Starting June, the Import of Goods Produced in Whole or in Part in Xinjiang or by Companies Promoting Forced Labor in China is Banned in the USA

In the United States, it is illegal to import goods made with forced labor, and for products coming from the Xinjiang region (China), import rules will become even stricter. The measure against forced labor signed by President Biden aims to hold companies active in the American market accountable at all levels of the supply chain: soon, those exporting goods from China will have to prove they do not use forced labor before importing merchandise into the United States.

The supply chains of energy, textile, and agricultural companies have undergone numerous checks, and these sectors are working to eliminate any trace of forced labor. Xinjiang produces one-fifth of the world’s cotton and 45% of a crucial material for making solar panels and is also a significant supplier of coal, oil, gold, and aluminum. This means that many companies importing and selling in the United States will need to verify any links with the Xinjiang region to have a transparent and compliant supply chain.

The UFLPA (Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act) will take effect on June 21, 2022. You can read the full version of the bill in English here:

https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/1155/text

US Import Customs

Guidelines for Importing Items Extracted, Produced, or Manufactured in Xinjiang to the American Market

The US government is developing a strategy to support the enforcement of a law that will effectively ban the importation of a vast amount of products from China into the American market. In particular, those importing from China to sell in the United States will need to follow guidelines regarding:

• Due diligence and supply chain management measures required when using Chinese labor;
• Evidence demonstrating that the items have not been produced in Xinjiang;
• Evidence demonstrating that products to be imported to the USA from China have not been produced using forced labor.

The presumption that the importing company is violating the forced labor law can be overcome if the CBP (Customs and Border Protection) determines that:

• The importer has complied with the supply chain management guidelines; and
• There is valid evidence showing that the goods produced in China do not originate from Xinjiang and did not require forced labor.

If the presumption by US customs is overcome, the goods can be imported into the United States.