Tariffs

U.S. Tariffs on Cars

When you import a passenger car into the U.S., you generally pay a 2.5% tariff on the vehicle's value. This applies to most standard cars—sedans, coupes, station wagons, and similar vehicles designed primarily to carry people.

Key details:

• Gas, diesel, hybrid, or electric cars all face the same 2.5% rate
• Where it's made matters: Cars from countries with free trade agreements (like Canada or Mexico under USMCA, or South Korea) may qualify for duty-free entry if they meet certain manufacturing requirements
• A few exceptions: Countries without normal trade relations with the U.S. (like North Korea or Cuba) face a much higher 10% rate, but this rarely affects everyday car buyers

Additional duties may apply depending on the country of origin. For example, there have been temporary tariffs on vehicles from certain countries as part of trade disputes. If you're looking at a car from a specific country (like China, Germany, or Japan), mention it for a more precise answer.

Bottom line: For most new cars sold in the U.S., you're looking at a 2.5% import duty built into the price—or possibly zero if the car qualifies under a trade agreement.

Steel Import Tariffs: What You Need to Know

Steel products imported into the U.S. are generally duty-free under normal circumstances. However, there are significant additional tariffs that likely apply depending on where the steel comes from.

The Basic Rates

Most steel products—including pipes, tubes, bars, rods, and structural steel—have a standard tariff rate of Free (meaning 0%). This applies to items like:

• Steel pipes and tubes used in construction or oil/gas pipelines
• Steel bars and rods
• Structural steel sections (beams, angles, etc.)
• Pipe fittings and couplings

The Catch: Additional Duties Based on Country

The "Free" rate is misleading because additional tariffs are very common on steel, depending on the country of origin:

• Section 232 tariffs: The U.S. has imposed 25% additional duties on steel from many countries for national security reasons. These tariffs have been in place since 2018 and affect imports from most major steel-producing nations.

• Section 301 tariffs: Additional duties may apply to steel from China and other specific countries.

• Country-specific deals: Some countries have negotiated reduced rates or quotas. For example, the EU and some other partners have arrangements that may lower or eliminate the 25% Section 232 tariff under certain conditions.

What This Means for You

If you're buying steel products, you'll likely pay 25% on top of the product's value unless the steel comes from a country with a special agreement or exemption. To get an accurate rate, you need to know the country where the steel was made. Let me know the source country, and I can provide more specific guidance.

Import Tariffs on iPhones

iPhones imported into the United States are duty-free under normal trade circumstances. There is no tariff or tax charged on these imports from most countries.

However, additional duties may apply depending on where the iPhone is manufactured. Many iPhones are made in China, and various trade measures have imposed extra tariffs on Chinese goods in recent years. These additional duties can range from 7.5% to 25% depending on the specific trade policy in effect.

If you're asking because you're concerned about prices, these tariffs are typically paid by the importing company (like Apple), though they may pass some or all of those costs on to consumers through higher retail prices. To get the most accurate picture of what duties apply, you'd need to know the specific country where the iPhone was manufactured—most commonly China, but increasingly India and other locations.

U.S. Import Tariffs on Coffee

Good news for coffee lovers: coffee beans are duty-free when imported into the United States, whether they're roasted or unroasted, decaffeinated or regular. This means no tariff is charged on raw coffee beans coming into the country.

However, processed coffee products have varying tariffs depending on how much they've been transformed:

• Instant coffee (like Folgers Instant or Nescafé): Duty-free
• Coffee-based drinks and preparations (like ready-to-drink lattes, coffee syrups, or coffee mixed with milk/sugar): These can have tariffs ranging from 8.5% to 30.5¢ per kilogram plus 8.5% of the product's value, depending on the specific ingredients and how the product is packaged

Electric coffee makers imported into the U.S. have a 3.7% tariff on their value. So if you buy an imported drip coffee maker or espresso machine, about 4% of its price goes to import duties.

Important note about country of origin: Coffee from most countries faces these standard rates. However, additional tariffs may apply to products from certain countries due to trade disputes or special measures. If you're curious about coffee from a specific country (like Colombia, Brazil, Vietnam, or Ethiopia), let me know and I can give you more precise information.

U.S. Import Tariffs on Fresh Produce

Fresh fruits and vegetables imported into the U.S. generally have low or no tariffs, but the rates vary quite a bit depending on what you're importing and when.

Common Fresh Vegetables

Most fresh vegetables come in duty-free or with very low tariffs:

• Spinach: 20% tariff
• Globe artichokes: 11.3% of the product's value
• Olives: A fixed rate of 8.8 cents per kilogram
• Pumpkins: 11.3% of the product's value
• Squash (like zucchini, butternut, spaghetti squash): 1.5 cents per kilogram
• Sweet bell peppers: Rates vary, but generally low

Frozen Vegetables

Frozen produce usually has slightly higher tariffs than fresh:

• Frozen mushrooms: 5.7 cents per kilogram plus 8% of the value
• Frozen tomatoes: Rates depend on when they enter the U.S. (ranging from 2.1 to 2.9 cents per kilogram)
• Frozen Brussels sprouts: 12.5% to 14% depending on processing
• Most other frozen vegetables: Around 11.3% to 14.9%

Fresh Fruits & Berries

Many fresh fruits are duty-free, including:

• Cranberries, blueberries, and similar berries: No tariff
• Kiwifruit: No tariff
• Black/red currants and gooseberries: No tariff

Some fruits have small tariffs:

• Durians: 2.2% of the product's value
• Persimmons: 2.2% of the product's value

Important Notes

Country of origin matters: Additional duties may apply depending on where the produce comes from. Trade agreements like USMCA (for Canada and Mexico imports) often mean lower or zero tariffs. If you're importing from a specific country, those details can affect the final cost.

Seasonal rates: Some vegetables (like tomatoes) have different tariff rates depending on what time of year they enter the U.S., to protect domestic growers during peak seasons.

U.S. Import Tariffs on Wine

Wine imported into the U.S. generally faces low tariffs that vary based on the type of wine, alcohol content, and container size. Here's what you need to know:

Still (non-sparkling) wines in bottles holding 2 liters or less typically have tariffs of 6.3 to 16.9 cents per liter, depending on alcohol content and wine type. Most table wines under 14% alcohol pay around 6.3 cents per liter, while fortified wines (like sherry or port) with higher alcohol content pay about 16.9 cents per liter. Wines imported from countries with free trade agreements with the U.S. (like Australia, Chile, and Peru) often enter duty-free.

Sparkling wines (like Champagne or Prosecco) face a tariff of 19.8 cents per liter, though this rate is also waived for many trade agreement partners.

Additional considerations: Some premium white wines valued over $1.05 per liter may be subject to a much higher 200% tariff, though this applies only in specific circumstances. Beer made from malt enters the U.S. duty-free, and rice wine (sakè) has a small tariff of 3 cents per liter.

The exact amount you pay depends on where the wine comes from and its specific characteristics. Wines from Canada, Mexico (under USMCA), and many other trading partners often qualify for reduced or zero tariff rates.

U.S. Import Tariffs on Shoes

The tariffs you'll pay on imported shoes depend heavily on what type of shoe it is, what it's made of, and how much it costs. Here's the breakdown:

Athletic & Sports Shoes

• Sneakers, gym shoes, basketball shoes and similar athletic footwear typically face tariffs ranging from 6% to 20% of the shoe's value, depending on materials and price point.
• Golf shoes generally have tariffs between 5% and 10%.

Everyday Footwear (Non-Athletic)

• Inexpensive shoes (under $3/pair): Often duty-free
• Mid-range shoes ($3-$12/pair): Tariffs can be complex—sometimes a flat fee per pair (like 76¢) plus a percentage (like 17-32%), or just a percentage (around 20%)
• Higher-end shoes (over $12/pair): Usually 9% to 20% of the shoe's value
• House slippers: Generally 7% to 10%

Materials Matter

• Leather shoes tend to have lower tariffs (often 4% to 10%) compared to synthetic materials
• Rubber/plastic shoes often face higher rates (20% to 48% in some cases)
• Shoes with mostly textile uppers may have different rates

Important Note About Country of Origin

Additional tariffs may apply depending on where the shoes come from. Many countries face extra duties on top of these standard rates, particularly shoes from China and other nations subject to trade measures. If you're importing from a specific country, mention it for a more accurate estimate of what you'll actually pay.

U.S. Tariffs on Pharmaceuticals

Good news for consumers: Most pharmaceutical products imported into the U.S. are duty-free, meaning no tariff is charged when they enter the country.

What's Free from Tariffs

• Prescription medications
• Including antibiotics, antivirals, heart medications, cancer treatments, and most other prescription drugs
• Hormone medications
• Including insulin, thyroid medications, and steroid-based treatments
• Over-the-counter medicines
• Such as pain relievers, antihistamines, cough and cold preparations
• Pharmaceutical ingredients
• The raw materials used to make medications

This duty-free status applies whether the medications come from Canada, Europe, India, China, or other countries with normal trade relations with the U.S.

A Few Exceptions

Some specialized pharmaceutical products have small tariffs:

• Certain vitamin supplements and herbal remedies may have duties ranging from 1.5% to 3.7% of their value
• Medical supplies like bandages and wound dressings are also duty-free

Why This Matters

The duty-free treatment of pharmaceuticals helps keep medication prices lower for American consumers and patients. You're not paying import taxes when you buy prescription drugs or over-the-counter medicines, though other factors (like manufacturer pricing, insurance coverage, and pharmacy markups) still affect what you pay at the counter.

Note: Depending on the country of origin, some products may be subject to additional duties beyond these standard rates, but pharmaceuticals generally remain exempt from most trade-related tariffs.

U.S. Tariffs on Lumber

Lumber imported into the U.S. faces different tariff rates depending on the type of wood and where it comes from.

Basic Tariffs

Softwood lumber (like pine, spruce, fir, hemlock, and cedar) is generally duty-free when imported from most countries. This includes common construction lumber used in framing and building projects.

However, as of October 14, 2025, a new 10% tariff has been added on top of the standard rates for most softwood timber and lumber products due to national security trade measures. This means lumber that was previously duty-free now faces this 10% charge.

Country-Specific Exceptions

Some countries have lower caps on these additional tariffs:

• United Kingdom: Maximum 10% (same as the standard new rate)
• Japan and European Union countries: Maximum 15% total

If you're importing lumber from Canada or Mexico, it may qualify for duty-free treatment under the USMCA trade agreement, but the new 10% tariff still applies on top of that.

Other Wood Products

Finished wood products like kitchen cabinets, vanities, and upholstered wooden furniture now face 25% tariffs (increasing to 30-50% in 2026), but raw construction lumber is subject to the lower 10% rate.

Hardwood lumber (like oak, maple, walnut) remains duty-free under standard rules, though additional duties may apply depending on the country of origin.

Kitchen Cabinets: What You Need to Know About Import Tariffs

If you're importing kitchen cabinets into the U.S., the tariff situation depends heavily on where they're made.

Standard Rate: Most finished kitchen cabinets and vanities (as well as their parts) come into the U.S. duty-free under normal circumstances. This means no base tariff applies.

Additional Tariffs Based on Country: However, many kitchen cabinets face extra duties depending on their country of origin:

• China: Cabinets from China may be subject to additional tariffs of 25% on top of the standard rate (which is zero, so effectively 25% total). This is part of ongoing trade measures affecting Chinese imports.
• EU, UK, Japan, South Korea: Cabinets from these countries may face additional tariffs of 10-15% depending on the specific product and country.
• Canada and Mexico: Generally benefit from duty-free treatment under the USMCA trade agreement, with no additional tariffs.

Bottom Line: To know what you'll actually pay, you need to know where the cabinets are manufactured. A cabinet from Canada might enter duty-free, while the same cabinet from China could face a 25% tariff. If you're shopping for cabinets or importing them for your business, always ask about the country of origin—it makes a big difference in the final cost.