Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. This tool calculates duties for goods imported into the United States only. It uses the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTSUS) and applies U.S.-specific trade programs including Section 301, Section 232, and U.S. free trade agreements. For exports or imports into other countries, consult that country's customs authority.

Our duty rates are sourced directly from the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) Harmonized Tariff Schedule. Section 301 tariff lists come from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR). Gateway maintains a proprietary normalization layer that maps HTS codes to current duty rates, trade program eligibility, and special tariff exposure. Gateway's data intelligence layer provides explanations separately and does not affect rate calculations.

Gateway estimates base duty and applicable additional tariffs from official sources. It also screens for possible antidumping and countervailing duties (AD/CVD). AD/CVD depends on the written scope of an order and the producer or exporter, so an HTS match is a warning to investigate, not a final determination. Bonds, quotas, licenses and other entry requirements need separate review. Confirm classification, origin and applicable treatment with your customs broker.

Yes. Visitors can make five calculations per rolling seven days without an account. Providing your email through the calculator increases that allowance to ten calculations per rolling seven days. Credits become available again as earlier calculations leave the seven-day window. These limits apply to the public calculator.

On February 20, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) are unconstitutional. Chief Justice Roberts wrote the majority opinion, with Thomas, Alito, and Kavanaugh dissenting. This invalidates all reciprocal "Liberation Day" tariffs and fentanyl-related tariffs on China, Mexico, and Canada — roughly $133.5 billion in collected duties.

Struck down: all tariffs imposed under IEEPA, including the reciprocal "Liberation Day" tariffs on 50+ countries and the fentanyl-related tariffs on China, Mexico, and Canada. Still in effect: Section 301 tariffs on China (7.5-100% depending on list), Section 232 tariffs on steel, aluminum, and copper (50% commodity / 25% derivative), autos (25%), timber and wood furniture (10-25%), and, since July 24, 2026, Section 301 forced labor duties of 10% or 12.5% on 60 economies. The Section 122 balance-of-payments surcharge (10% on most other imports) was also unaffected by the ruling but has since expired on its own terms, on July 24, 2026. Tariffs under these other legal authorities were not affected by the ruling.

Yes. CBP confirmed that the CAPE (Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries) tool launches April 20, 2026 in the ACE Secure Data Portal. Phase 1 covers unliquidated entries and entries within 80 days of liquidation, including suspended and warehouse entries. Only the Importer of Record or their authorized customs broker can file, with a max of 9,999 entries per CAPE Declaration. Refunds (including accrued interest) are issued within 60-90 days of acceptance. ACH must be enabled in your ACE Portal account.

It already happened. Four days after the ruling, the administration imposed a 10% global surcharge under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 (balance of payments), effective February 24, 2026. Section 122 is narrower than IEEPA was: it is capped at 15% and limited to 150 days unless Congress extends it, and it duly expired by operation of law on July 24, 2026 without an extension. It was replaced the same morning: USTR made final determinations in the Section 301 forced labor investigations covering 60 economies, imposing additional duties of 10% or 12.5% effective 12:01 a.m. eastern time on July 24, 2026 (CBP CSMS #69326983). Unlike Section 122 these carry no statutory sunset. Section 232 sector programs continue to expand. None of these restore the broad, immediate authority IEEPA provided.

Section 301 tariffs are additional duties imposed on Chinese-origin goods as part of U.S. trade policy. These tariffs range from 7.5% to 100% depending on the product category (Lists 1-4) and are applied on top of the standard MFN duty rate. They were introduced in 2018 and have been modified multiple times since.

Our simulator automatically detects Section 301 exposure based on your HTS code and country of origin. When you select China as the origin country, the tool checks against all four USTR lists and displays any applicable additional tariffs in the results breakdown with the specific list reference.

Section 301 tariffs only apply to goods originating from China under U.S. rules of origin. You can legally avoid these tariffs by sourcing from alternative countries like Vietnam, Mexico, India, or Taiwan. Our country comparison tool quantifies the exact duty savings from different origin countries. Note: Transshipment through a third country without substantial transformation does not change origin and is a customs violation.

Some HTS codes appear on Section 301 lists with footnotes, exclusions, or partial coverage. When a product falls into an ambiguous classification—where only certain variants are covered, or where enforcement has been inconsistent—we flag it as "301 risk" rather than assert a definitive rate. This is where brokers most commonly make errors. Gateway customers can request a binding classification review.

Section 232 tariffs are duties on steel, aluminum, and copper imports imposed for national security reasons under the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. As of April 6, 2026, rates are tiered: commodity metals 50%, derivative products 25%, metal-intensive industrial/grid equipment 15% (through 2027), and products made abroad with American metals 10%. UK gets preferential rates. Products with 15% or less metal content are exempt. Also covers advanced semiconductors (25%), autos (25%), and timber (10-25%).

Full country exemptions were eliminated in the 2025-26 proclamations — the old Australia exemption and the Argentina/Brazil/South Korea quota arrangements are gone. What exists today is preferential treatment: the United Kingdom pays reduced metal rates (25% commodity / 15% derivative instead of 50% / 25%), the EU, Japan, and Korea have a 15% all-in ceiling on autos and parts, the UK has a 10% in-quota auto rate, Taiwan-origin auto parts and wood furniture are capped at 15% all-in under the May 2026 US-Taiwan agreement, and USMCA-qualifying auto parts from Canada and Mexico are exempt from the auto tariff. A June 2026 update also lets those 11 partner jurisdictions pay a 15% all-in rate (instead of the flat 25%) on listed mobile equipment such as forklifts, dozers, and tractors.

It started with raw and semi-finished steel and aluminum (HTS Chapters 72, 73, 76), but the derivative lists have grown sharply and now reach hundreds of downstream products — fasteners, cookware, appliances, steel racks, aluminum cans and lithographic plates, furniture hardware, and more. Separate Section 232 programs also cover vehicles and auto parts (25%), advanced semiconductors (25%, advanced chips only), and timber and wood furniture including upholstered furniture and kitchen cabinets (10-25%). Whether your product is covered comes down to its exact HTS line: our simulator checks the current derivative annexes automatically.

Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 was used for a temporary 10% import surcharge beginning February 24, 2026. That surcharge expired July 24, 2026 and is no longer included in current Gateway calculations. Other applicable duties, including Section 301 and Section 232 measures, must still be checked for the product and origin. See the Section 122 page for the dated policy history.

No. The Section 122 surcharge expired July 24, 2026 and is excluded from current Gateway calculations. Duties paid while it was in force are a separate historical-entry issue. Keep your entry records and consult the dated Section 122 policy page and your customs broker about any applicable review or refund procedures.

US import duty is worked out in four steps. (1) Find the product's 10-digit HTS code. (2) Take the customs value, usually the price paid for the goods, not including international freight and insurance. (3) Apply the general (Column 1) rate for that HTS line, or a free trade agreement rate if the goods qualify, and add every additional duty that applies to that code and country of origin: Section 301 on goods from China, Section 232 on steel, aluminum, copper, autos, lumber and other covered products, the Section 301 forced labor duty on goods from 60 economies, Section 338 on listed Canadian goods, and any antidumping or countervailing duty order. (4) Add CBP fees: the Merchandise Processing Fee of 0.3464% of value, with a per-entry minimum and maximum, and the Harbor Maintenance Fee of 0.125% on ocean shipments. Duty equals the customs value times the sum of the applicable rates. For example, a $10,000 shipment of Chinese apparel with a 16.5% base rate, 7.5% Section 301 List 4A and the 12.5% forced labor duty owes $3,650 in duty (36.5%). The forced labor duty never stacks on articles already paying Section 232 duties, and USMCA-qualifying, CAFTA-DR and listed-exemption goods are excluded. Some lines carry a specific (per-unit) rate instead of a percentage, and the calculator handles both. The IEEPA tariffs struck down by the Supreme Court on February 20, 2026 and the Section 122 surcharge that expired on July 24, 2026 are not included.

The declared value (customs value) is typically the transaction value—the price actually paid for the goods—plus certain additions like freight to the port of export, assists, royalties, and selling commissions. This is the FOB value on which U.S. duties are calculated. CIF value (including freight and insurance to the U.S.) is used for statistical purposes but not duty calculation.

Identical HTS codes can result in different duties based on: (1) Country of origin—different tariff treatment and trade program eligibility; (2) Free trade agreements—qualifying goods may enter duty-free; (3) Special programs like GSP or AGOA; (4) Temporary modifications from executive orders or trade actions. Our simulator accounts for all of these factors when you specify the origin country.

Yes. In addition to duties, you may owe: Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF) of 0.3464% (per entry, minimum $33.58 and maximum $651.50 through September 30, 2026, then $34.58 and $670.86 from October 1, 2026), Harbor Maintenance Fee (HMF) of 0.125% for ocean shipments, ISF filing (~$50 broker fee, ocean only), and potentially state/local taxes upon entry. Formal entries over $2,500 also require a customs bond. Our calculator shows the primary duty; Gateway customers see full landed cost breakdowns.

USMCA (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement) can reduce or eliminate base import duties on qualifying goods from Mexico and Canada. Goods must meet the agreement's rules of origin and documentation requirements; shipment from either country alone does not establish eligibility. Separate trade measures may still apply. Gateway shows potential preferential treatment, and your customs broker should confirm qualification for the entry.

The U.S. has FTAs with 20 countries: Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Jordan, South Korea, Mexico, Morocco, Nicaragua, Oman, Panama, Peru, and Singapore. Each agreement has different rules of origin and product coverage. Preferential rates depend on the agreement, product classification and origin requirements. Separate trade measures may still apply. The Section 122 surcharge expired July 24, 2026 and is excluded from current calculations.

To claim preferential duty rates under an FTA, you need: (1) A valid certificate of origin—format varies by agreement (USMCA uses a certification statement, not a form); (2) Supporting documentation proving the product meets rules of origin; (3) Proper HTS classification with the FTA special program indicator. False claims can result in penalties up to $10,000 per violation. Gateway customers can request origin certification guidance from our compliance team.