US Tariff Stack 2026

ATMAVAAN INSIGHTS  ·  US TARIFFS & CUSTOMS

IEEPA Is Gone, Section 301 Is Now the Main Tariff Tool: The 2026 US Tariff Stack Explained

If you import goods into the US, 2026 has been a confusing year. Many shippers still quote last year’s tariff rates, and those numbers are no longer correct. The rules changed twice in five months. Here is what happened and how to work out the duty you owe today.

What happened to the IEEPA tariffs?

On 20 February 2026, the US Supreme Court ruled that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) does not allow the President to impose tariffs. All IEEPA tariffs, including the “reciprocal” tariffs, ended on 24 February 2026.

To fill the gap, a temporary 10% global surcharge came in under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. The law allows it for only 150 days, so it ended on 24 July 2026.

Section 301 takes over

On 23 July 2026, the US Trade Representative finalized new Section 301 tariffs on 60 economies, starting the very next day with no gap. The main points:

•  Two rates: 10% or 12.5%, based on the country.

•  India is in the lower tier: most Indian goods pay an extra 10%.

•  Section 232 goods are left out: steel, aluminium and auto parts skip this duty.

•  Many exemptions: such as most Indian generic medicines and smartphones.

•  China pays more: the new duty sits on top of older China Section 301 tariffs.

How the 2026 tariff stack works

Your US import duty is no longer one number. It is a “stack” of layers based on your HS code and country of origin:

• MFN duty: the normal base rate for your HS code.

• Section 301: the new 10% or 12.5% tariff, plus old China tariffs where relevant.

• Section 232: sector tariffs on metals, cars and more.

A quick example

Say an Indian product has an MFN rate of 5%. Add the 10% Section 301 duty and your total is 15%. If the same product falls under Section 232, you pay MFN plus the 232 rate instead, and the 10% drops off.

Why your HS code matters more than ever

One wrong digit in your HS code can change which layers apply. That means overpaying, or underpaying and facing penalties later.

Check your tariff stack in seconds

The Atmavaan Tariff Simulator adds MFN, Section 301 and Section 232 for any HS code and country, so you see the full duty before your cargo sails. Unsure of your code? Check it first with our HS Code Classification tool.

Shipping on the India–USA lane? Talk to the Atmavaan team before your next booking.

Tariff rates change often. Figures in this article are current as of November 2026.

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