10% GLOBAL TARIFF: ADJUSTMENT OF U.S. CUSTOMS DUTIES
On February 23, 2026, the Trump administration announced the immediate implementation of a uniform 10% global tariff on nearly all goods imported into the United States. This decision, based on Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, follows a Supreme Court ruling that invalidated previous tariffs established under the authority of the IEEPA.
SCOPE OF APPLICATION
The affected goods are now classified under the tariff subheading 9903.03.01 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). This 10% surcharge applies uniformly, regardless of the country of origin, and is cumulative with existing customs duties as well as Section 301 tariffs, particularly for certain products of Chinese origin. For example, a product already subject to an additional 25% duty will see its overall rate reach 35%.
The measure is scheduled for a limited duration of 150 days, until July 24, 2026, unless Congress decides otherwise. Furthermore, the suspension of the “De Minimis” regime is maintained: shipments with a value of less than 800 USD are now taxed from the first dollar.
EXEMPTED PRODUCTS
The administration has defined 13 categories of exemptions detailed in the proclamation. Notably excluded are:
- Critical minerals (natural graphite, nickel, manganese, molybdenum)
- Energy resources and fertilizers not available in sufficient quantities in the United States
- Health products, including finished medicines and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API)
- Certain agricultural categories (beef, tomatoes, oranges)
- Essential electronic components and semiconductors
- Passenger vehicles, buses, trucks, and spare parts, as well as civil aircraft and their components (HTS 9903.03.05)
- Precious metals (gold, silver)
- Products already subject to Section 232 tariffs (steel, aluminum, copper), to avoid double taxation.
This 10% global surcharge constitutes a major temporary trade policy measure with immediate effect. Please note that the U.S. government is currently considering potentially increasing this surcharge to 15% instead of 10%.
As experts in customs and multimodal transport, our Balguerie Group teams are here to support you in all your procedures and ensure constant regulatory monitoring in an ever-evolving environment.
