Tariff Programs
Section 301 (China) — Current Rates, Affected HTS Codes, and Change History
Quick answer
Section 301 is USTR's tariff response to China's unfair trade practices. It covers four product lists with rates of 7.5%–25%, plus May 2024 four-year-review modifications layering on rates up to 100% for EVs, semiconductors, and pharmaceuticals.
What it is
Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 authorizes the US Trade Representative to impose tariffs on goods from a country found to engage in unfair trade practices. In US practice, Section 301 refers exclusively to the China actions imposed beginning in 2018 under the original Section 301 investigation, plus the May 2024 four-year-review modifications.
The original action established four product lists: List 1 (25% on industrial inputs and electronics), List 2 (25% on plastics and chemicals), List 3 (25% on a broad range including auto parts, furniture, and consumer goods), and List 4A (7.5% on remaining consumer goods). The May 2024 four-year-review raised rates on a subset of these lists: 100% on EVs, 50% on semiconductors, 100% on pharmaceuticals, plus higher rates on batteries, critical minerals, and several other categories. The four-year-review modifications stack on top of the original list rates.
Section 301 duties stack additively with MFN, Section 232, Section 122, and AD/CVD. The authoritative scope is HTSUS Chapter 99 Heading 9903.88.x (original lists) and 9903.91.x (four-year-review modifications). USTR also operates a product-specific exclusion process — see the Section 301 exclusions program page.
Current rates
| Tier | Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| List 1 | 25% | Industrial inputs, electronics (HTSUS 9903.88.01) |
| List 2 | 25% | Plastics, chemicals (HTSUS 9903.88.02) |
| List 3 | 25% | Auto parts, furniture, consumer goods (HTSUS 9903.88.03) |
| List 4A | 7.5% | Remaining consumer goods (HTSUS 9903.88.15) |
| 4-year-review: EVs | +100% | Layers on top of original list (HTSUS 9903.91.x) |
| 4-year-review: Semiconductors | +50% | Layers on top of original list |
| 4-year-review: Pharmaceuticals | +100% | Layers on top of original list |
When a product appears in both an original list and a four-year-review modification, the rates stack additively. Stacks of 75–125+ percentage points are common in the 4-year-review covered categories.
Affected HTS codes
Thousands of 8-digit lines across HTSUS Chapters 28, 29, 39, 40, 73, 84, 85, 87, 90, 94. The full scope is the union of 9903.88.x and 9903.91.x sub-headings.
For any specific code, use the HTS Lookup to see the full stack, current rate, and recent change history.
Recent changes
No recent Section 301 (China) changes detected in the last 90 days. We poll the Federal Register, USTR notices, and USITC HTSUS daily — this list refreshes automatically.
Primary sources
Related tools
Frequently asked questions
Do Section 301 tariffs apply to all Chinese-origin goods?
Only to HTS codes listed under Section 301 Lists 1–4A or the four-year-review modifications. A Chinese-origin product not listed under any 9903.88.x or 9903.91.x sub-heading is not subject to Section 301.
How does the four-year-review modification interact with the original list rate?
It stacks. A product subject to List 3 (25%) and a four-year-review modification of +50% pays 75% in Section 301 duties total, layered on top of MFN and Section 122.
Can I claim a Section 301 exclusion?
Possibly. USTR maintains a list of product-specific exclusions; the most recent extension keeps a slate of exclusions active through November 2026. Importers must claim the exclusion at entry by using the specific 9903 exclusion sub-heading.
Do USMCA-qualifying goods avoid Section 301?
USMCA only displaces MFN, not Section 301. However, Section 301 only applies to Chinese-origin goods; a properly USMCA-qualifying good from Mexico or Canada is by definition not of Chinese origin and is not subject to Section 301.
What's the difference between Section 301 and Section 232?
Section 301 is country-specific (China only) and targets unfair trade practices. Section 232 is global and targets national-security threats. Both can apply to the same product — a Chinese-origin steel article pays both Section 301 List 1 (25%) and Section 232 (50%).
Related
- Methodology — how TariffDesk computes the duty stack and verifies sources.
- Tariff glossary — definitions of the program terms used on this page.
- Tariff news — change-by-change reporting on detected rate moves.