Stop Guessing — Check by Category
The most common mistake importers make is looking only at the MFN rate. When importing from China, you need to stack at least two layers: Section 301 (7.5–25%) + potential AD/CVD (anywhere from single digits to 400%+).
Here's an industry-by-industry breakdown of the hardest-hit categories.
Electronics & Semiconductors (HTS Chapter 85)
Chips, integrated circuits, networking equipment, LED displays. These are covered under Section 301 List 2, adding 25%. If you trade electronic components, you can barely avoid it.
Pro tip: The same chip imported from Taiwan or South Korea doesn't trigger Section 301. But watch out — Taiwan faces AD/CVD on some products (solar cells, for example).
Steel & Metal Products (HTS Chapter 73)
Steel pipe, stainless steel products, aluminum profiles. This is the "superstar" of AD/CVD — steel-related anti-dumping cases are the most numerous, with rates ranging from 30% to 400%+.
Stack it all up: MFN 0–5% + Section 301 25% + AD/CVD potentially 100%+. A $10,000 steel order can land at $15,000+.
Furniture & Wood Products (HTS Chapter 94)
Wooden bedroom furniture is the classic AD/CVD case. The anti-dumping order has been in place since 2004, and it's still active.
- From China: Section 301 25% + AD potentially 100%+
- From Vietnam: AD/CVD under investigation (post-2020 dual investigation)
- From Malaysia: Some categories also have active AD orders
Furniture importers must check by specific HTS code — don't rely on broad category assumptions.
Textiles, Apparel & Footwear (HTS Chapters 61–64)
List 3 and 4A cover a massive range of textiles, apparel, and footwear. List 3 is 25%, List 4A is 7.5%.
Money-saving insight: If you can source the same product from outside China, the Section 301 25% goes away entirely. But note that AD/CVD may follow the product, not the country.
How to Check Your Exact Rates
Three steps:
- Enter your product name or HTS code at CVDar
- Select the country of origin (default: China)
- Get the full landed cost breakdown — MFN + Section 301 + AD/CVD + MPF + HMF, all in one shot
Stop checking USITC + USTR + ITA separately. CVDar merges all three data sources.