New U.S. Tariff Structure on NON-EU Imports – Effective August 8, 2025
What Importers Need to Know: Updated U.S. Tariff Structure on Non-EU Imports (Aug 2025)
Focused, practical breakdown — China / India, new reciprocal tariffs, Section 232, timing, and what to do.
Introduction
In late July 2025 the U.S. introduced significant changes to its import duty framework for non-EU goods. The core components now in force combine a reciprocal country-level tariff surcharge, a complex overlay for China and India-origin products, and continued/expanded Section 232 tariffs on steel, aluminum, and copper. This isn’t theoretical—importers need clarity on who pays what, when it starts, and how to adapt. Below is a sharp, actionable summary with the full list of affected countries and their updated reciprocal tariff rates.
1. Key Dates / When the Changes Take Effect
August 1, 2025: Section 232 tariff on certain copper products takes effect (semi-finished and derivative copper; raw cathodes, ores, scrap excluded).
August 8, 2025 at 12:01 a.m. ET: Reciprocal country-specific surcharge (the “additional” tariff on top of the base HTSUS rate) becomes effective for goods entered for consumption or withdrawn from a warehouse.
Ongoing: Steel and aluminium remain subject to the 50% Section 232 tariffs that have been active since earlier in 2025; they are managed separately from the reciprocal surcharge.
2. Reciprocal Tariff Rates by Country (Non-EU)
These are the additional country-level ad valorem surcharges that stack on top of the base HTSUS duty (effective August 8, 2025). Importers of goods from these origins will pay the base rate plus the listed percentage.
| Country | Reciprocal Tariff Rate |
|---|---|
| Afghanistan | 15% |
| Algeria | 30% |
| Angola | 15% |
| Bangladesh | 20% |
| Bolivia | 15% |
| Bosnia & Herzegovina | 30% |
| Botswana | 15% |
| Brunei | 25% |
| Cambodia | 19% |
| Cameroon | 15% |
| Chad | 15% |
| Costa Rica | 15% |
| Cote d'Ivoire | 15% |
| D.R. Congo | 15% |
| Ecuador | 15% |
| Equatorial Guinea | 15% |
| Falkland Islands | 10% |
| Fiji | 15% |
| Ghana | 15% |
| Guyana | 15% |
| Iceland | 15% |
| India | 25% |
| Indonesia | 19% |
| Iraq | 35% |
| Israel | 15% |
| Nicaragua | 18% |
| Nigeria | 15% |
| North Macedonia | 15% |
| Norway | 15% |
| Pakistan | 19% |
| Papua New Guinea | 15% |
| Philippines | 19% |
| Serbia | 35% |
| South Africa | 30% |
| South Korea | 15% |
| Sri Lanka | 20% |
| Switzerland | 39% |
| Syria | 41% |
| Taiwan | 20% |
| Thailand | 19% |
| Trinidad & Tobago | 15% |
| Tunisia | 25% |
| Turkey | 15% |
| Uganda | 15% |
| United Kingdom | 10% |
| Vanuatu | 15% |
| Venezuela | 15% |
| Vietnam | 20% |
| Zambia | 15% |
| Zimbabwe | 15% |
Note: Countries not explicitly listed above (non-EU, non-Annex I) are subject to a default 10% reciprocal surcharge in addition to their base HTSUS duty.
3. China and India: What Makes Them Different / What to Watch
China
China-origin products are not governed by a single surcharge—rather, they fall under multiple overlapping tariff regimes, including:
Preexisting Section 301 tariffs (still in force on many categories),
The new reciprocal country-level surcharge, where applicable,
Other sector or product-specific adjustments are rolled into broader trade policy.
Implication: Every China-origin SKU needs a product-by-product duty exposure review. You cannot assume a flat rate; classification, current policy layering, and origin content must be modeled to see the full impact. Proboxx can assist with these granular classification and modelling reviews to avoid under- or overpaying.
India
India is now subject to a 25% reciprocal tariff surcharge on top of base duties. That makes landed cost calculations for India-origin goods materially different than before July 2025. If your sourcing or routing includes India, update your pricing and profitability models accordingly.
4. Section 232 Tariffs (Steel, Aluminum, Copper)
These are separate from the reciprocal surcharges and have their own trigger rules:
Steel & Aluminium: 50% Section 232 tariffs remain in place on most imports of steel and aluminium. They are handled independently of the country-level reciprocal surcharge.
Copper (new as of Aug 1, 2025): A 50% tariff applies under Section 232 to semi-finished and derivative copper products, calculated on the copper content only. Raw inputs like cathodes, ores, and scrap are excluded.
If your supply chain includes these materials, ensure you can distinguish the content types (e.g., copper content vs. excluded raw forms) and reflect the correct tariff in your landed costs.
5. Transit Exemption (Short Window for In-Flight Shipments)
There is a narrow transit exemption that can shield certain shipments from the new reciprocal duties if all of the following are true:
The goods were loaded on their final mode of transport to the U.S. before the effective date (Aug 8, 2025 for reciprocal tariffs).
They were in transit as of that date.
They are entered for consumption (cleared) by CBP before October 5, 2025.
Final mode of transport means the last vessel or flight departing the final foreign port/airport. Goods delayed at transshipment hubs on the effective date do not qualify. Documentation (bills of lading, loading timestamps, carrier manifests) must support the timeline to claim the exemption.
6. Practical Action Plan (What to Do Now)
Inventory your origins: List all suppliers and their countries of origin. Flag which are China, India, Annex I countries, or others (default 10%).
Rebuild landed cost models: Layer in:
Base HTSUS duty
Reciprocal country surcharge (per table)
Section 232 tariffs where applicable (steel, aluminum, copper)
SKU-level review for China goods: Conduct product-by-product classification and duty stacking analysis. Engage Proboxx to validate exposures.
Update pricing / quotes: Adjust customer pricing or absorb strategies to reflect higher duty burdens from India and other affected origins.
Check in-flight shipments: If any goods were already on their final transport before Aug 8, gather proof to evaluate transit exemption eligibility.
Communicate upstream/downstream: Inform procurement, sales, and customers about timing and potential cost shifts to avoid surprises.
Monitor for clarifications: While this version focuses on the stable core (reciprocal tariffs, China/India complexity, Section 232, and transit), keep an eye on CBP notices in case of procedural clarifications or implementation details.
Conclusion
The August 2025 tariff updates reshape the cost and compliance landscape for non-EU imports. China and India now carry layered or elevated exposures, while the rest of the world faces clearly defined reciprocal surcharges. Steel, aluminium, and certain copper products bring separate 50% charges under Section 232. Getting ahead means recalculating landed costs, validating origin and classification line by line, and using the narrow transit exemption window where eligible.
Proboxx can help with review, modeling, routing suggestions, and documentation to ensure you’re paying what’s required—no more, no less—and that your supply chain decisions reflect the new reality.
Importers must calculate their customs duties based on the product's HTS code, its declared value, and any additional taxes or fees that may apply.
Accurate classification is critical, as incorrect HTS codes can lead to overpayment or underpayment of taxes, potentially attracting penalties or audits from customs authorities.
HTS codes are essential tools for international traders, determining the taxes, duties, and regulations applicable to their products.
If you are unsure about what HTS Code you should be using reach out to us HERE.