What the Latest 90-Day US-China Tariff Deal Really Means for Importers
In a recent development, U.S. and Chinese officials held face-to-face negotiations in Geneva—the first in years—resulting in a temporary 90-day de-escalation of trade tensions. While this may sound promising, the current tariff structure still places a significant burden on importers, particularly those sourcing goods from China.
Understanding the Current Tariff Layers
As of now, three layers of tariffs apply to many imported goods from China:
All of these are additive tariffs, meaning they stack on top of each other rather than replace prior rates. For example, a product could face a 10% base tariff, 20% emergency tariff, and a 25% Section 301 tariff—totaling 55% import duty—plus any standard import duty based on classification.
How to Calculate Your Total Tariff
Importers must:
The current environment is a temporary reprieve, but does not roll back any of the existing tariff layers. Instead, it pauses further escalation and offers importers short-term predictability.
What’s Next?
Despite the 90-day pause, there's little expectation of lasting resolution. Several factors suggest tariffs may be here to stay:
The video closes with a realistic outlook: the tariff standoff is shaping into a long-term geopolitical chess match. For businesses, tariffs are becoming the new normal, and planning around them is now a necessity rather than an option.
Watch the full video below to see the updated tariff breakdown and learn how to use Amazon's Seller Central tools to calculate your product's exact duties.
In a recent development, U.S. and Chinese officials held face-to-face negotiations in Geneva—the first in years—resulting in a temporary 90-day de-escalation of trade tensions. While this may sound promising, the current tariff structure still places a significant burden on importers, particularly those sourcing goods from China.
Understanding the Current Tariff Layers
As of now, three layers of tariffs apply to many imported goods from China:
- Base Tariff (Post-Negotiation) – A flat 10% applied to all Chinese imports.
- Fentanyl Emergency Tariffs – An additional 20% introduced under national security justifications.
- Section 301 Tariffs – Originally implemented under the Trump administration, these range from 0% to 100% depending on the product's HTS (Harmonized Tariff Schedule) code.
All of these are additive tariffs, meaning they stack on top of each other rather than replace prior rates. For example, a product could face a 10% base tariff, 20% emergency tariff, and a 25% Section 301 tariff—totaling 55% import duty—plus any standard import duty based on classification.
How to Calculate Your Total Tariff
Importers must:
- Determine their product’s HTS code.
- Use tools (available via Amazon Seller Central or linked in the video) to look up applicable Section 301 tariffs and base import duties.
- Sum all applicable tariffs to estimate landed costs.
The current environment is a temporary reprieve, but does not roll back any of the existing tariff layers. Instead, it pauses further escalation and offers importers short-term predictability.
What’s Next?
Despite the 90-day pause, there's little expectation of lasting resolution. Several factors suggest tariffs may be here to stay:
- China can afford to wait due to its lack of electoral pressure.
- U.S. political considerations—such as midterm elections—make escalation risky.
- A likely strategy is to maintain moderate tariffs (30–50%) as leverage, while achieving symbolic wins to satisfy domestic audiences.
The video closes with a realistic outlook: the tariff standoff is shaping into a long-term geopolitical chess match. For businesses, tariffs are becoming the new normal, and planning around them is now a necessity rather than an option.
Watch the full video below to see the updated tariff breakdown and learn how to use Amazon's Seller Central tools to calculate your product's exact duties.
HTS Section 301 Tariff Search Tool: https://sellercentral.amazon.com/huntui/index.html (Seller Central Account Required)