Section 301 Tariffs and China Import Duties: A Practical Guide for US Importers

Section 301 tariffs, originally imposed in 2018 under the Trade Act of 1974, added 7.5% to 25% in additional duties on hundreds of billions of dollars of Chinese imports, on top of standard MFN rates. The categories they cover range from industrial machinery and electronics to consumer goods and raw materials. If you’re importing from China and haven’t audited your HTS codes recently, there’s a real chance you’re either overpaying on duties you’ve already classified or missing a mitigation opportunity your current broker hasn’t flagged.

Beyond Logix’s licensed customs brokers review your product classifications, identify applicable exclusions, and help you understand whether strategies like tariff engineering, supplier diversification, or first sale valuation can meaningfully reduce your exposure. The information asymmetry around tariffs is significant. Most importers don’t know what they don’t know. Our customs brokerage team treats compliance as a cost-reduction exercise, not just a paperwork function.