China US Tariff Exemptions: How to Check Eligibility

China US tariff exemptions decide whether your Chinese-origin goods pay the extra Section 301 duty. As of mid-2026, 178 product exclusions extended by USTR are active, and they run out for entries filed on or after 10 November 2026.

The exclusions apply once your product matches an exact HTSUS code and description, so there is no application to file. The risk is claiming China US tariff exemptions your product does not fit, which customs can reverse months later with back duty added.

What Are China US Tariff Exemptions?

China US tariff exemptions are product exclusions that remove the Section 301 tariff from specific Chinese-origin goods. They cover 178 products in 2026: 164 product-specific exclusions and 14 solar manufacturing equipment exclusions. All are set to expire for entries on or after 10 November 2026.

An exclusion removes Section 301 duty only. You still pay the normal MFN rate, plUS any Section 232, antidumping, or countervailing duties that apply to the same product.

Item	Detail
Active exclusions	178 total: 164 product-specific, 14 solar manufacturing equipment
HTSUS headings	9903.88.69 (product-specific), 9903.88.70 (solar equipment)
Governing notice	Federal Register notice published 1 December 2025 (FR Doc 2025-21671)
Expiry	Entries through 11:59 p.m. ET 9 November 2026; relief gone from 10 November 2026
New requests	None open. USTR is not accepting new exclusion applications

The current Section 301 tariff actions and exclusion list, published by USTR, is the source that governs what qualifies.

Which Products Qualify for a Tariff Exemption?

The China US tariff exemptions cluster in a few industry groups. Coverage sits with capital equipment and industrial inputs where no near-term source outside China exists, such as solar manufacturing gear and precision machinery. Finished consumer goods have almost no coverage.

The exclusion descriptions read like engineering specifications. A product must match the stated dimensions, wattage, or output exactly, so a close match does not qualify.

• Solar manufacturing equipment: The 14 exclusions cover machinery that makes photovoltaic cells and modules, such as wafer slicing and deposition systems. They do not cover the solar cells themselves.
• Industrial machinery and components: The largest group covers precisely defined parts, such as rotary compressors and electric motors within set power ranges.
• Medical devices and healthcare products: A narrow set carried forward from COVID-era grants covers specific product configurations.
• Specialty chemicals and materials: Several exclusions reference set formulations, purity levels, or end uses.
• Vehicle climate control components: Compressors and blowers for motor vehicle air conditioning, tied to specific dimensions and outputs.

To see how much of a product category still ships from China under these codes, check US import data by product and supplier before you plan around an exclusion.

What Is Not Covered by the Tariff Exemptions List?

Several high-volume categories fall outside the China US tariff exemptions, and this is where importers most often expect relief that does not exist. Rates on some of these went up after the 2024 four-year review, so the goods now carry a higher duty.

Reviewing the tariff exemption list against common import categories shows the gaps clearly:

• Electric vehicles and EV batteries: No exclusions. Section 301 rates rose to 100% on EVs and 25% on EV batteries.
• Consumer electronics and finished goods: Almost no coverage under List 4A.
• Semiconductors beyond solar: No broad exclusions. The solar equipment exclusions are specific to photovoltaic production.
• Steel, aluminium, and certain critical minerals: No exclusions, with rate increases on some critical mineral lines.
• Apparel and footwear: No meaningful coverage, despite frequent small-importer inquiries.

How Do You Check Eligibility on the Tariff Exemptions List?

Checking eligibility for China US tariff exemptions is a line-by-line match against the official list. You confirm the exact ten-digit HTSUS code, pull the binding product description from the U.S. notes, and compare every technical parameter against your product.

A product that meets six out of seven specifications is not covered. If your classification is wrong at the ten-digit level, no exclusion claim is valid.

Step	What to do
1. Confirm classification	Identify the ten-digit HTSUS statistical reporting number for your product
2. Pull the description	Read U.S. note 20(vvv)(i)–(iv) for 9903.88.69, or 20(www) for 9903.88.70
3. Match every parameter	Compare dimensions, weight, power, materials, and end use line by line
4. Document the basis	Record how the product meets each element, with note and notice references
5. Consider a ruling	For a close call, request a binding ruling from CBP before claiming at entry

Sound classification is the base of every claim, and import compliance rests on getting the HTSUS code right before you rely on any exclusion.

What Does the 10 November 2026 Deadline Mean?

Entries filed on or after 10 November 2026 lose the exclusion and pay the underlying List 1, 2, 3, or 4A rate. That is between 7.5% and 25% on top of the MFN rate, depending on the product's original list.

USTR frames these exclusions as a temporary bridge to non-China sourcing, and it has not opened a new request process. Each extension cycle since 2024 has been short, so planning around another extension has no basis in the agency's stated position.

• If you rely on a covered product: Start the sourcing transition now, well ahead of the deadline.
• If you overpaid on a covered entry: A Post Summary Correction fits an unliquidated entry; a protest under 19 U.S.C. § 1514 fits one liquidated within the past 180 days.

With yTrade's shipment data across 200+ countries, you can map which suppliers and countries already serve a product line before the window closes.

Conclusion

China US tariff exemptions remove the Section 301 duty from 178 specific Chinese-origin products in 2026, split across HTSUS 9903.88.69 and 9903.88.70. They apply on their own once a product matches an exact ten-digit code and description, and they end for entries from 10 November 2026. An exclusion cuts Section 301 duty only, so MFN, Section 232, and AD/CVD duties still stand.

Check your classification against the current USTR list, document the match, and plan sourcing on the assumption the window closes on schedule.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to apply for a China Section 301 tariff exemption?

No. The 178 active exclusions apply on their own to any import that matches the exact HTSUS code and product description. You claim one by reporting 9903.88.69 or 9903.88.70 on the entry summary. USTR is not accepting new exclusion applications, so no separate request is filed.

Where is the official tariff exemption list published?

The active exclusions sit under HTSUS headings 9903.88.69 and 9903.88.70, with descriptions in U.S. notes 20(vvv) and 20(www). The governing Federal Register notice, FR Doc 2025-21671, was published on 1 December 2025. USTR posts the Section 301 actions and exclusion documents on its tariff actions page.

Does a Section 301 exclusion remove all duties on my product?

No. An exclusion removes the Section 301 duty only. You still owe the MFN rate for the product's classification, plUS any Section 232 duties on steel or aluminium, and any antidumping or countervailing duties if the product falls within an AD/CVD order. Other user fees also still apply.

What happens to my duty after 9 November 2026?

Entries filed on or after 10 November 2026 lose the exclusion. The product then pays its underlying List 1, 2, 3, or 4A Section 301 rate, between 7.5% and 25% on top of the MFN rate. USTR has not opened a new exclusion process, so relief is not guaranteed past the deadline.

How do I recover Section 301 duty I paid on a covered product?

If the entry has not liquidated, file a Post Summary Correction to fix the Chapter 99 code. If it liquidated within the past 180 days, file a protest under 19 U.S.C. § 1514, identifying the exclusion and the basis for eligibility. After 180 days, recovery options narrow sharply.