An overview
On September 24, 2026, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with U.S. President Trump. Following the meeting, the two governments announced recommendations under a 30-for-30 framework.
Nothing has changed at the border and duties on Chinese-orgin goods still apply as they did previously. The White House released the terms of reference and the two product lists on September 27, 2026
What is the U.S.-China 30-for-30 tariff framework?
The 30-for-30 framework is a U.S.-China arrangement under which each country has recommended approximately $30 billion of the other’s annual, non-sensitive goods for reduced tariff treatment. It does not by itself change any tariff rate, and it sets no effective date.
Instead, it provides that each country may later reduce the tariffs currently applicable to products on its approved list through its respective domestic legal process.
Key issues and what it means for importers
| Key issue | What it means for importers |
|---|---|
| No immediate duty reduction | The announcement is a policy framework and product recommendation, not an opertative U.S. tariff modification.
Continue to enter merchandise under the current applicable HTSUS provisions and Chapter 99 remedies. Implementing authority and CBP entry guidance will be issued. |
| Section 301 duties remain relevant | Longstanding China Section 301 measures continue to apply unless a product is excluded or another exception applies.
Rates and the exclusion list may change as bilateral negotiations progress. USTR’s 178 current exclusions remain scheduled to run through November 9, 2026. |
| Other trade remedies may stack | A future reduction under the 30-for-30 framework may not displace other tariffs or duties already in place, including Section 232 duties, forced-labor measures, or antidumping or countervailing duties.
Review the implementing instrument for scope, exclusions, stacking rules, and effective dates. |
Which Chinese products are recommend for reduced tariffs?
The recommended product lists run in both directions and include:
- U.S. exports to China – agricultural goods, fish and seafood, logs and wood products, cosmetics, and medical devices.
- U.S. imports from China – small appliances, toys, holiday decorations, children’s car seats, and other consumer products.
It is important to note that the parties have only recommended these products for reduced tariff treatment. The terms of reference state that future reductions will be determined and implemented under each side’s domestic law. The framework may also be expanded to additional products.
What should importers do now?
The framework is defined by tariff classification, not by industry, so the work starts with your own entry data.
- Map your catalog to the lists — check your Chinese-origin HTSUS classifications against the recommended U.S. import list rather than relying on product category names.
- Hold your current entry practice — continue filing under existing HTSUS and Chapter 99 provisions until CBP issues guidance.
- Track the Section 301 exclusion window — confirm which of your goods rely on an exclusion, and model what happens if it is not extended past November 9, 2026.
- Model both outcomes — build a landed-cost view with and without a reduction so you can move quickly either way.
- Watch for the implementing instrument — the effective date, scope, and stacking rules will live there, not in the framework.
Preparing for the U.S.-China 30-for-30 tariff framework
The 30-for-30 framework is a signal, not a duty change. The products are recommended, the reductions are not defined, and no effective date exists yet.
This makes the costs of unknowns high because if you move too early, you may need to reprice against a rate that never arrives. If you wait, you may miss the planning window when it does.
Aprio’s Customs and Tariffs team can help importers review classification, origin, and duty exposure as U.S.-China trade policy continues to shift.