New 34% U.S. Tariffs on Chinese Goods: Key Updates for Importers

The U.S. government announced a 34% “reciprocal tariff” on all Chinese imports effective April 10, 2025. Combined with existing duties, this raises total tariffs on many goods to over 54%. 

Regulating Imports with a Reciprocal Tariff to Rectify Trade Practices that Contribute to Large and Persistent Annual United States Goods Trade Deficits – The White House

How will this reciprocal tariff be added?
When will it start to be collected?
What about the goods on the road?
To this end, our customs department answers the questions that everyone is concerned about as follows:

Q1. What’s Covered? Scope & Rates

1.Products Impacted: All goods from China (excluding steel, aluminum, and auto parts under Section 232 tariffs).

      Total Duty Calculation:

• General Goods: Base rate + 7.5%/25% (Section 301) + 20% (Feb 2025 tariffs) + 34% = 54%⁺ total.

• Steel/Aluminum: Base rate + Section 301 + 20% + 25% (Section 232).

• Auto Parts: Base rate + Section 301 + 20% + 25% (Section 232).

  
  

2. Steel and Aluminum Products（detailed）

All steel, aluminum, and their derivatives are subject to tariffs under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as outlined in the following U.S. government announcements:

• Announcement 9704 (March 8, 2018): Adjusted aluminum product imports.

• Announcement 9705 (March 8, 2018): Adjusted steel product imports.

• Announcement 9980 (January 24, 2020): Adjusted steel/aluminum derivative imports.

• Announcement 10895 (February 10, 2025): Updated aluminum import adjustments.

• Announcement 10896 (February 10, 2025): Updated steel import adjustments.

Tariff Calculation for Steel/Aluminum Products:

• Base Rate + Section 301 Tariffs (7.5% or 25%, if applicable) + 20% Ad Valorem Tariffs (February 2025) + 25% Section 232 Steel/Aluminum Tariff.

• Exemption: These products are not subject to the new 34% reciprocal tariff.
  
  

3. Automobiles and Auto Parts（detailed）

All automobiles and auto parts are subject to additional tariffs under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as specified in Announcement 10908 (March 26, 2025).

Tariff Calculation for Auto Products:

• Base Rate + Section 301 Tariffs (7.5% or 25%, if applicable) + 20% Ad Valorem Tariffs (February 2025) + 25% Section 232 Auto Tariff.
  
  

Important Notes

• Policy Updates: Rates may change if the U.S. government issues new tariff policies or amendments. Always verify the actual tariff rate at customs clearance.

• Documentation: Retain proof of shipment dates (e.g., AMS departure timestamps) to validate exemptions for in-transit goods.

Q2. Critical Deadlines for In-Transit Shipments

• Tariff Effective Date: April 9, 2025 (12:01 AM EDT).

• Exemption for In-Transit Goods:

• No 34% duty if shipment departed China before April 9 (based on AMS departure time).

• Example: A vessel leaving Shanghai on April 8 arrives in Los Angeles on April 15 – no new tariff applies.

Q3: What should the seller do if he has goods in transit?

After the new policy takes effect, sellers can pay attention to whether the goods are subject to a 34% tax. The actual tax bill issued by the customs shall prevail. If an additional tax is imposed, the fees will be reimbursed on a real-time basis.

Q4: What impact will this round of tax increase have on cross-border sellers? How should we deal with it?

For Chinese sellers, the implementation of this round of tariff policy will undoubtedly bring multiple impacts.

First, Chinese goods have been subject to a 20% tariff before, and the profit margin is already very limited. Many sellers' products also involve the 301 list, and the tariff rate has been as high as 45% or more before. Now the implementation of a new round of "reciprocal tariffs" will undoubtedly further increase costs. Sellers can re-evaluate whether the product still has profit margins after the superposition of multiple tariffs, and adjust the selling price appropriately.

Secondly, we see that in addition to mainland China, countries or regions including Bangladesh (37%), Malaysia (24%), Cambodia (49%), Thailand (37%), Taiwan, China (32%), Japan (24%), Vietnam (46%), Pakistan (30%), etc. have been subject to higher reciprocal tariffs, which means that many sellers have no advantage in circumventing the rules of origin by transferring the supply chain.

In addition to the United States, sellers can also consider turning to other sites, such as Europe, Australia, Japan, etc., to reduce their dependence on the United States alone. Although a new round of tariff policies has been announced, the market is still cautious about its subsequent direction. After all, the Trump administration's policies have been reversed many times. Sellers can pay close attention to US policy developments.

With tariffs soaring in the U.S., redirecting focus to Europe offers:

• Lower Trade Barriers: No retaliatory tariffs on Chinese goods.

• Fast & Affordable Shipping: CUCFreight’s cheapest shipping from China to UK routes  (7-10 days transit).

• Warehousing Solutions: Store inventory in our UK hubs for faster local delivery.

Where Others See Problems, We Deliver.

Stay Updated with CUCFreight

Tariff policies may shift – bookmark our Live Tariff Tracker for real-time updates. Need help rerouting shipments? Contact our experts for customized logistics plans and cheapest shipping from China to UK rates.