china tariff Archives | Customs & International Trade Law Blog

New 104% China Tariff – U.S.-China Standoff Intensifies

On April 8, 2025, President Trump issued an executive order imposing additional tariffs on Chinese imports after China failed to drop its retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods. The order amends the Administration’s original reciprocal tariff of 34%, increasing it to 84%. This applies on top of the 20% tariff imposed in March, bringing the total tariff on all imports from China to 104%, effective April 9, 2025.

China has already implemented countermeasures in response. China’s Office of the Tariff Commission of the State Council announced that tariffs on U.S. goods will rise to 84% starting on April 10.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian called the Administration’s actions “bullying” said Beijing will take “firm and forceful” steps to protect itself. The Commerce Ministry said it would “fight till the end” in the event of a trade war.

President Trump acknowledged that the imposition of the tariffs has been “somewhat explosive” but defended the approach, saying that the Administration is open to making deals.

Diaz Trade Law will continue to monitor the situation for updates. If you are an importer of Chinese goods, there are actions you can take. Check out our webinar on minimizing tariffs here.

The Latest on Tariffs: Key Information for Importers – Automobile & Venezuela Oil Update

In the last several weeks, the Trump Administration has issued dozens of executive orders impacting the trade community. The Orders impact tariffs, de minimis shipments, steel and aluminum imports, automobiles, and more.

New Tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China

On February 1, 2025, President Trump first issued a fact sheet and thereafter signed three executive orders imposing new tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China:

25% tariff on imports from Canada
25% tariff on imports from Mexico
10% tariff on imports from China

The tariffs on imports from China went into effect February 4, 2025. The tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico were initially set to take effect February 4, 2025, but were delayed by one month following commitments made by both countries to secure the border and stop the flow of drugs into the United States.

In a Truth Social post on February 27, President Trump confirmed that the tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods will go into effect on March 4. He also announced that China will face an additional 10% tariff starting March 4.

On March 3, 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order increasing tariffs on imports from China from 10% to 20%. The Federal Register Notice for China can be found here.

On March 5, 2025, the Administration announced a temporary one-month pause on automobile tariffs for Mexico and Canada. Subsequently, on March 6, 2025, President Trump temporarily suspended tariffs on certain goods from Canada and Mexico that meet the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) requirements, effective March 7, 2025. The Federal Register […]

By Jennifer Diaz|2025-04-02T14:22:14-04:00March 28, 2025|Tariffs|Comments Off

USTR Finalizes Action on 301 Tariffs

The United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced final tariff modifications following their statutory review of the Section 301 investigation of the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) Acts, Policies, and Practices Related to Technology Transfer, Intellectual Property, and Innovation. The final modifications include tariff increases on several products including critical minerals, batteries, and semiconductors.

301 Investigation Background

In August 2017, USTR initiated an investigation into China’s acts, policies, and practices related to technology transfer, intellectual property, and innovation. The agency released a report of its findings in March 2018 and in June 2018 began imposing additional duties on products of China in four tranches.

Under the Trade Act of 1974, the USTR is required to conduct a four-year review if they receive an appropriate request to continue an action taken under Section 301. The agency is required to review:

(A) the effectiveness in achieving the objectives of section 301 of (i) such action, and (ii) other actions that could be taken (including actions against other products or services), and
(B) the effects of such actions on the United States economy, including consumers.

In accordance with this requirement, USTR announced in May 2022 that it was commencing this review and opened a docket for interested persons to submit comments.

The agency […]

By Jennifer Diaz|2024-09-17T15:54:25-04:00September 17, 2024|301 INVESTIGATIONS, China, Countries, U.S. Trade Representative (USTR)|Comments Off

301 Exclusion Extensions for COVID-19 Related Products

On March 10, 2021, via Federal Register Notice ( 86 FR 13785), the United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced that 99 medical product exclusions will be extended from March 31, 2021, to September 30, 2021. This action extends a previous USTR action which extended these exclusions from December 31, 2020, to March 31, 2020 (85 FR 85831). […]

By Jennifer Diaz|2021-10-12T14:38:04-04:00April 13, 2021|301 INVESTIGATIONS, Best Practices, China, China Trade War, COVID-19, Customs Expert, Enforcement, HTS, Import, International Business, International Trade, Special 301, Trade Policy, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), U.S. Trade Representative (USTR)|Comments Off

Future of First Sale Rule in Question

On March 1, 2021, the Court of International Trade (CIT) denied Meyer Corporation’s claim for duty-free treatment under its attempted use of the first sale valuation and the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), in Meyer Corporation, U.S. v. United States, Court No. 13-00154 (Meyer). This case sent a ripple through the trade-community as many speculate whether the decision signals an end of first sale for non-market countries.

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By Jennifer Diaz|2021-10-12T14:39:20-04:00April 6, 2021|Best Practices, China, China Trade War, Customs Expert, Enforcement, Export, Import, Import Alert, International Business, International Law, International Trade|1 Comment

USTR Announces China 301 Tariff Exclusion Extensions for COVID-Related Products

On December 29, 2020, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (“USTR”) announced long-awaited extensions to a limited set of previously granted exclusions (for COVID-related products), that were set to expire on December 31, 2020. Meanwhile, importers across non-COVID industries are continuing to await guidance on their tariff exclusion extensions that are set to expire on December 31, 2020.

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By Jennifer Diaz|2021-10-12T15:11:51-04:00December 30, 2020|301 INVESTIGATIONS, China, China Trade War, COVID-19, Customs Broker, Customs Expert, Enforcement, Export, HTS, Import, International Business, International Law, International Trade, Investigation, IPR, Trademarks and Logos, Supply Chain, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)|3 Comments

LIST 3 Exclusion Updates

On June 24, 2019, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) provided the public with an exclusion process for items included subjected to Section 301 Tariffs. Specifically, the exclusions related to products included on List 3, which went into effect on September 24, 2018.

Originally, List 3 imposed 10 percent ad valorem duties on 5,757 full and partial subheadings of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) and had an annual trade value of $200 Billion. Months later, in May 2019, the 10 percent ad valorem duties were increased to 25 percent. […]

By Jennifer Diaz|2021-10-20T15:23:25-04:00October 26, 2020|China, China Trade War, Enforcement, Export, HTS, Import, International Business, International Law, International Trade, Investigation, IPR, Trademarks and Logos, Supply Chain, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)|1 Comment

List 4 Exclusion Update

On June 26, July 17, and August 11, 2020, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) requested the public to submit comments regarding potential product exclusion extensions for items subject to Section 301 Tariffs. This comment period specifically applied to products that were included on List 4.

When the list was announced on August 20, 2019, it imposed a 10 percent ad valorem on 3,805 full and partial subheadings of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), with an annual trade value of approximately $300 billion. Then, on August 30, 2019, USTR increased the rate of the additional duty announced in the August 20 notice from 10 to 15 percent. Finally, on January 22, 2020, USTR determined to reduce the rate from 15 to 7.5 percent. […]

By Jennifer Diaz|2021-10-20T15:24:48-04:00October 23, 2020|China, China Trade War, Customs Expert, Enforcement, Export, HTS, Import, International Business, International Law, International Trade, Investigation, IPR, Trademarks and Logos, Supply Chain, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), USMCA|Comments Off

NEW LIST 2- SECTION 301 EXTENSIONS

On June 25, 2020, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), requested the public to submit comments regarding potential product exclusion extensions for items subject to Section 301 Tariffs. This comment period specifically applied to products that were included on List 2, which went into effect on August 23, 2018.

List 2 imposed 25 percent additional duties on 279 eight-digit subheadings of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) and had an annual trade value of $16 Billion.

On September 18, 2018, USTR provided the public with an exclusion process; then September 2019, USTR granted a number of exclusions that were set to expire on September 20, 2020. In the June 25^th Notice, commenters were asked a variety of questions relating to their supply chains, such as…

whether the particular product and/or a comparable product is available from sources in the United States and/or in third countries; any changes in the global supply chain since August 2018 with respect to the particular product, or any other relevant industry developments; and efforts, if any, importers or U.S. purchasers have undertaken since August 2018 to source the product from the United States or third countries.

The June 25th announcement was made via federal register notice and stated that requests for exclusion extensions were to be submitted no later than July 30, 2020. Less than three months later, on September 22, 2020, USTR announced its determination to extend certain exclusions through the end of the year. Although USTR […]

By Jennifer Diaz|2021-10-20T15:36:31-04:00October 1, 2020|China, China Trade War, Customs Expert, Export, HTS, Import, International Business, International Law, International Trade, Investigation, IPR, Trademarks and Logos, Supply Chain, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)|1 Comment

NEW List 1- Section 301 Extensions

On June 3, 2020, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), requested the public to submit comments regarding potential product exclusion extensions for items subject to Section 301 Tariffs. This comment period specifically applied to products that were included on List 1, which went into effect on July 6, 2018, and had an annual trade value of $34 Billion.

List 1 imposed 25 percent additional duties on 818 eight-digit subheadings of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS).

The June 3 announcement was made via federal register notice and stated that submissions were to be made no later than July 7, 2020. Less than three months later, on September 20, 2020, USTR announced its determination to extend certain exclusions through the end of the year.

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