Chinese 301 Tariffs

Reciprocal Tariffs

Current Status

On April 1, 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to establish a baseline tariff and reciprocal tariffs on imported goods. The baseline tariff is 10% and goes into effect on April 5, 2025. The country-specific reciprocal tariff varies by country and goes into effect on April 9, 2025.

International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA)

International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA)

The reciprocal tariffs, imposed under IEEPA, aim to address concerns over foreign trade practices that the administration views as contributing to persistent U.S. goods trade deficits. The White House cites foreign tariffs, non-tariff barriers, and other restrictions that limit U.S. exports while granting foreign goods broad access to the U.S. market.

According to the Trump administration, the baseline and reciprocal tariffs are intended to promote balanced trade, strengthen U.S. industry, and reduce reliance on imports that may pose economic and security risks.


Tariff Rates and Effective Date

Tariff Rates and Effective Date

Baseline Tariff:

A 10% baseline tariff will apply to imports from all countries, effective April 5, 2025 at 12:01 am EDT.

Reciprocal Tariffs:

Reciprocal tariffs will apply to imports from 60 trading partners, effective April 9 at 12:01 am EDT. Reciprocal tariff rates are country-specific. It was clarified after the White House press conference that the reciprocal tariff charts include the 10% baseline tariff.

Full List of Countries

Cumulative Tariff Rates:

The new tariffs will be applied to any existing duties, fees, taxes, exactions, or charges except for the exemptions described below.

Goods in Transit:

Goods loaded onto a vessel and in transit on the final mode of transportation before the April 5 or April 9 effective dates; and subsequently entered for consumption or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, will not be subject to the additional duty.


Country-Specific Rates
Exemptions

Exemptions

Certain goods will be excluded from the reciprocal tariff rates, including:

  1. Articles covered by IEEPA general exclusions (50 USC 1702(b)) such as donations, personal mail, informational materials, etc.
  2. Articles and derivatives of steel and aluminum currently subject to Section 232 tariffs
  3. Autos and auto parts currently subject to Section 232 tariffs
  4. Other products listed in Annex II, including copper, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, lumber, certain critical minerals and energy and energy products
  5. Products from a trading partner subject to rates in Column 2 of the HTSUS (Cuba, North Korea, Russia and Belarus)
  6. All products that may become subject to future Section 232 tariffs

In other words, if your product is already subject to the steel and aluminum tariffs, the autos and autos parts tariffs or any of the other exemptions listed above, your product is exempt from these reciprocal tariffs.

It is unclear at the moment if products that are subject to the steel and aluminum derivatives tariff based on value content would be subject to the reciprocal tariffs.

Canada and Mexico

Canada and Mexico

Goods from Canada and Mexico will continue to be covered by the existing IEEPA orders related to fentanyl and immigration and are unaffected by this order. The current tariff structure for Canada and Mexico will remain:

  • 0% tariff for USMCA-compliant goods.
  • 25% tariff for non-USMCA-compliant goods.
  • 10% tariff for non-USMCA-compliant energy and potash.

If the IEEPA tariffs related to fentanyl and immigration are lifted in the future, USMCA-compliant goods would continue to receive 0% preferential treatment, while non-USMCA compliant goods would be subject to a 12% reciprocal tariff under the new framework.


Presidential Modification Authority

Presidential Modification Authority

The Executive Order grants the President the authority to adjust the tariff rates if the action is not effective in addressing the national security concerns. Tariffs may be increased if foreign governments impose retaliatory measures or may be reduced if trading partners take actions to remedy non-reciprocal trade barriers.


Background

On February 13, 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order directing the development of a reciprocal tariff system to address trade imbalances and foreign trade barriers. The order tasked the U.S. Trade Representative and the Secretary of Commerce with designing tariffs to counteract foreign tariffs, non-tariff barriers, and other restrictions on U.S. exports.

The administration finalized the reciprocal tariff structure on April 1, 2025, invoking emergency authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to implement both baseline and reciprocal tariffs.


Has your business been impacted by Tariffs?

We welcome your feedback to help us better understand and assess the impact of these tariffs on our industry and businesses. Please share with us by contacting Angela Chiang, director, international affairs, at angela.chiang@autocare.org.

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