Section 301 Tariffs

What Are Section 301 Tariffs?

Section 301 tariffs are additional import duties imposed by the United States under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, typically in response to trade practices the US government considers unfair, most notably applied to a wide range of Chinese-origin goods.

How Do Section 301 Tariffs Work?

The US Trade Representative investigates specific trade practices, then, if warranted, publishes lists of affected products by HS code, subject to an additional tariff on top of standard duty rates. These lists and rates have been revised multiple times, adding or removing product categories and adjusting tariff percentages.

Why Section 301 Tariffs Matter

Section 301 tariffs can substantially increase landed cost for affected products, and because the product lists and rates change periodically, importers need to actively monitor whether their specific HS codes and countries of origin are currently subject to these tariffs, rather than assuming past exposure or exemption still applies.