Honestly, trying to keep up with trade news lately feels like watching a tennis match where they keep adding more balls to the court. One minute everything is "de-escalating," and the next, you’re hearing about 100% duties on syringes. If you’re a business owner or just someone wondering why your next laptop might cost a fortune, you've likely asked: what are the current tariffs on china and how long is this going to last?
The short answer is: it’s a mess of overlapping rules. We aren’t just looking at the old Trump-era taxes anymore. We have the Biden-Harris Section 301 increases that kicked in late last year, a new "truce" deal signed in November 2025, and some very specific 2026 hikes that just went live.
The Current State of Play in 2026
Right now, the trade relationship is governed by a fragile "Economic and Trade Arrangement" struck in November 2025. This deal basically hit the pause button on the most aggressive "reciprocal" tariffs—those massive across-the-board taxes that were threatened during the campaign.
Instead of a 60% or 100% tax on everything, we have a "reciprocal tariff" of 10% that applies to almost all Chinese imports. This is the baseline.
But here’s the kicker: that 10% is just the floor. For thousands of products, you have to stack the Section 301 tariffs on top of it. Depending on what you’re importing, you could be looking at a combined rate of 35%, 60%, or even 110%.
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The Big 2026 Hikes
As of January 1, 2026, several "second-wave" increases from the previous administration's final review officially went into effect. If you deal in medical supplies or green tech, this is where it hurts:
- Medical Gloves: The tariff jumped to 100% (up from 50%).
- Face Masks: These are now taxed at 50%.
- Syringes and Needles: These hit a staggering 100% rate.
- Lithium-ion Batteries (Non-EV): These jumped to 25% for the first time this year.
Then there’s the semiconductor drama. Just days ago, on January 14, 2026, a new proclamation added a 25% Section 232 tariff on certain high-performance chips. The government says this is a national security move. For now, it doesn't hit "downstream" products like your phone or toaster—just the raw components—but that could change if negotiations sour by the summer.
Why "Reciprocal" is the New Buzzword
You might hear politicians talking about "reciprocity." Basically, it means "we charge you what you charge us."
Under the November 2025 deal, the U.S. agreed to keep the general reciprocal tariff at 10% until at least November 10, 2026. In exchange, China had to stop its retaliatory taxes on American farmers. They also promised to buy 25 million metric tons of U.S. soybeans this year.
It's a "truce," not a peace treaty.
If China stops buying those soybeans, or if the U.S. decides they aren't doing enough to stop fentanyl precursors, that 10% rate is scheduled to jump back to 20% or higher almost instantly.
Specific Sectors: What You'll Pay
If you're looking for a specific number, you have to know your HTS (Harmonized Tariff Schedule) code. But generally, here is how the land lies for the biggest categories:
1. Electric Vehicles and Green Energy
This is the "Fortress America" zone. The tariff on Chinese EVs is 100%. When you add the 10% reciprocal tax, you're looking at 110%. The goal is simple: make Chinese EVs so expensive that they can't compete with domestic brands like Ford or Tesla. Solar cells are also heavy hitters at 50%.
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2. Semiconductors and Tech
Logic chips and memory from China are currently at 50% under Section 301. Plus, as mentioned, that new 25% national security tax just started for advanced AI-capable chips. It’s a double whammy for the tech sector.
3. Steel and Aluminum
These haven't changed much lately, but they remain high. Most Chinese steel is taxed at 25%. The government is getting stricter about "melt and pour" rules, too. You can't just ship Chinese steel to Mexico, melt it, and call it Mexican steel anymore. Customs is watching.
4. Consumer Goods and "De Minimis"
This is the big one for shoppers. The "De Minimis" loophole—which let packages under $800 enter the U.S. duty-free—is effectively dead for China. Now, almost every postal shipment from China faces a 54% duty or a flat **$100 fee** per item. This is why sites like Temu and Shein have seen prices creep up recently.
The Fentanyl Connection
It sounds weird to talk about drugs and trade in the same breath, but that’s how the law works now. Under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), a specific set of tariffs was tied to China's cooperation in stopping fentanyl flows.
In late 2025, the U.S. actually lowered these by 10 points because China started cracking down on chemical exports. It was a rare moment of "carrots" instead of "sticks."
Is There Any Way Around This?
Not really. The "exclusion" process—where companies could ask for a waiver because they couldn't find a product anywhere else—has been gutted.
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As of early 2026, only a very narrow list of manufacturing machinery is eligible for exclusions. If you’re importing finished consumer goods, you’re basically out of luck. The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) extended some existing exclusions until November 2026, but don't count on new ones being granted.
Actionable Steps for Businesses
If you're feeling the squeeze, you can't just wait for the tariffs to "go away." They are the new normal.
- Audit your HTS codes immediately. Small shifts in how a product is classified can mean the difference between a 10% and a 50% tax.
- Look to Southeast Asia, but be careful. Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia are popular alternatives, but the U.S. is now investigating "transshipment." If your factory in Vietnam is just assembling Chinese parts, you might still get hit with the China rate.
- Watch the November 10, 2026 deadline. That is when the current "truce" expires. If a new deal isn't reached by then, expect the reciprocal 10% rate to double overnight.
The reality is that what are the current tariffs on china isn't a static list—it's a moving target. For now, expect to pay at least 10% more than the "sticker price" on anything from China, with that number skyrocketing for tech, medical gear, and anything made of steel.
Keep a close eye on the USTR's Federal Register notices. They usually give about 15 to 30 days of warning before a "snapback" happens. In this trade environment, 30 days is all the lead time you're going to get.