Historical reciprocal tariff on China and Hong Kong goods

A historical reciprocal tariff on goods from China and Hong Kong is a trade measure recorded under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). “Reciprocal” generally means the measure was designed to respond to trade barriers or policies associated with another country or territory. “Historical” indicates that the measure belongs to a past period or may no longer be active; its current applicability must be confirmed in official customs data.

The measure typically affects goods whose legal country of origin is China or Hong Kong, rather than simply goods purchased from or shipped through those locations. It may apply as an additional duty alongside the product’s normal Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) duty. Importers should determine the correct tariff classification, origin, entry or withdrawal date, and any exclusions or special instructions before calculating landed cost or filing an entry.

What to check

• Verify whether the measure is active for the relevant entry date; do not assume a historical listing still imposes duty.
• Confirm the product’s HTSUS classification and read the measure’s listed scope, including any covered tariff numbers or product descriptions.
• Determine legal country of origin under U.S. customs rules; distinguish origin from the ship-from country, seller location, or transit route.
• Check official instructions for exclusions, exemptions, quota treatment, filing codes, and whether the measure is an additional duty.
• Have a customs broker or trade professional review unclear classification, origin, or IEEPA applicability before entry filing.