Import duty from China to the USA is the base tariff for your product's HTS code plus, for most Chinese-origin goods, an added Section 301 duty of 7.5 or 25 percent. Base rates run from zero to roughly 20 percent depending on the item, and the Section 301 surcharge stacks on top. A few strategic categories such as electric vehicles, solar cells and batteries carry far higher rates. There is no single "China duty rate"; it depends entirely on what you are importing.
That is the honest short answer, and it frustrates people who want one number. The real figure comes from your product's classification, its customs value, and a handful of fees. Here is how to work it out for your own shipment.
The four things that decide what you pay
Total duty on a shipment from China is built from four parts. Get each one right and the number is exact rather than a guess.
| Component | What it is | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Base HTS duty | The Most Favored Nation rate for your code | 0% to ~20% |
| Section 301 duty | Added tariff on most China-origin goods | 7.5% or 25% (some far higher) |
| Merchandise processing fee | CBP fee on formal entries | 0.3464% (set min and max) |
| Harbor maintenance fee | On ocean shipments | 0.125% |
Duties are calculated on the customs value, which is usually the price you paid for the goods, not the retail price and not the price with freight rolled in for most terms. So a 20,000 dollar order of goods on a 25 percent Section 301 list, with a zero base rate, owes about 5,000 dollars in Section 301 duty plus the small processing and harbor fees. Freight and insurance then add to your landed cost even though they are not always part of the dutiable value.
Why the base rate alone misleads you
Look up many products from China and the base HTS duty reads zero or low single digits, which makes importing look cheap. The trap is that the Section 301 surcharge does not show up next to that base rate in a quick lookup. Furniture, auto parts and thousands of consumer goods sit on List 3 at 25 percent; apparel, footwear and electronics on List 4A at 7.5 percent. For the full breakdown of which lists exist and how to check your code, see our guide to Section 301 tariffs. The one rule to carry away: never quote a China landed cost off the base rate alone.
What happened to the de minimis exemption
For years, shipments valued under 800 dollars could enter the US duty-free under the de minimis rule, which is why so many direct-from-China parcels arrived with no tariff. That exemption no longer applies to goods from China. Low-value Chinese-origin shipments are now subject to duty and formal handling, so the old "under 800 dollars, no duty" assumption is out of date. Because these rules have moved quickly, confirm the current treatment for your shipment type before you rely on any exemption.
How to calculate your exact duty
Work it in order. First, classify the product to its 10-digit HTS code, because everything downstream keys off that number. Second, read the base MFN duty for that line. Third, check whether the 8-digit subheading is on a Section 301 list and add that rate. Fourth, apply the processing and harbor fees to the customs value. The hardest step is the first one, since a wrong code changes both the base rate and the 301 status.
Describe your product on the live classifier to get the code and base duty with a rationale, then run the full figure, including the China surcharge and fees, in the import duty calculator. If you resell what you import through online marketplaces, it pays to keep the duty in view alongside your revenue; tools that track every marketplace payout make it easier to see whether the margin survives the tariff.
Watch for antidumping and countervailing duties
Beyond the base rate and Section 301, some Chinese goods carry antidumping (AD) or countervailing (CVD) duties, and these can dwarf everything else. They apply to specific products the US has found are sold below fair value or unfairly subsidized: examples over the years include furniture, tires, steel, aluminum extrusions, mattresses, solar panels and certain hardware. AD and CVD rates are set per producer and can run from single digits to several hundred percent. They stack on top of the base duty and the Section 301 tariff, so a product that looks like a 25 percent import can, in a worst case, owe far more. If you import anything in a category that has faced trade cases, check whether an AD/CVD order covers your specific product and supplier before you commit to an order.
Customs value and Incoterms change the math
Duty is charged on the customs value, and your shipping terms decide what that value includes. Under most terms the dutiable value is the transaction price of the goods, exclusive of international freight and insurance, but the details depend on your Incoterms and how the sale is structured. Getting this right matters because every percentage point of duty is applied to that base: overstate it and you overpay, understate it and you risk a penalty. Keep the commercial invoice, the packing list and the terms of sale consistent, and make sure the value you declare ties back to what you actually paid the supplier.
Frequently asked questions
How much is import duty from China to the USA?
It is the base HTS duty for your product, from zero to about 20 percent, plus an added Section 301 tariff of 7.5 or 25 percent on most Chinese goods, plus small processing and harbor fees. Some strategic goods such as electric vehicles and solar cells carry much higher rates. The exact figure depends on the product's HTS code and its customs value, so there is no single flat rate.
Do I pay tax on goods imported from China?
Yes. You pay the HTS duty plus any Section 301 tariff, the merchandise processing fee, and the harbor maintenance fee on ocean freight. These are federal charges collected by Customs and Border Protection at entry. State sales tax is separate and is generally handled when you sell the goods, not at import.
How do I avoid paying too much duty on Chinese imports?
Classify accurately so you neither miss a Section 301 charge nor overpay on the wrong code, check for active product exclusions, and confirm the correct customs value. If the same product is available from a country without a Section 301 action, changing origin (with proper substantial-transformation documentation) can lower the tariff. Never misdeclare origin or value to reduce duty; that is customs fraud.
Is there still a duty-free threshold for China?
The 800 dollar de minimis exemption that once let low-value parcels enter duty-free no longer applies to goods from China. Low-value Chinese-origin shipments now face duty and formal processing. Because this area has changed recently, verify the current rule for your shipment before assuming any threshold applies.
Get the number right from the code up. Classify on the live classifier, total the cost in the import duty calculator, and read how Section 301 tariffs work so the China surcharge never catches you out. If you just need the rates, the Section 301 tariff list by product sets them out by list and effective date.