Written and maintained by CASRAI Editorial Board
Last updated
General trade and customs information for lab and clinic staff, not legal, customs-classification or medical advice.
Short answer
Section 301 tariffs on medical products are additional duties on specific products of China. In its September 12, 2024 notice, the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) set 100% on syringes and needles from September 27, 2024, 50% on medical gloves in 2025 rising to 100% in 2026, and 25% on most textile face masks and respirators in 2024 rising to 50% in 2026. Only the listed tariff subheadings are covered, not medical devices in general.
Definition and scope
Section 301 is the trade-law authority under which USTR imposed duties on goods of China. The September 2024 notice (the “Section 301 Modifications Determination”) concluded USTR’s statutory four-year review of those actions and changed rates on several product groups. The medical products in it are identified by Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) subheadings and, for masks, by 10-digit statistical reporting numbers. The duties apply to products of China entered for consumption, or withdrawn from a warehouse for consumption, on or after the dates in the notice.
A product is in scope only if its HTSUS classification matches a listed number. A device that is merely “medical” but classified elsewhere is not named in the medical-product tables of this notice. Classification is a customs question: see HS codes for how the system works.
How the rates and dates were set
The medical products USTR listed, with rates
| Product | HTSUS number (as listed) | Rate and timing in the notice |
|---|---|---|
| Syringes, with or without needles, and parts and accessories (except enteral syringes entered before January 1, 2026) | 9018.31.00 | 100%, 2024 |
| Tubular metal needles and needles for sutures, for medical, surgical, dental or veterinary use, and parts and accessories | 9018.32.00 | 100%, 2024 |
| Medical or surgical gloves of vulcanized rubber other than hard rubber | 4015.12.10 | 50%, 2025; 100%, 2026 |
| Disposable textile face masks | 6307.90.9870 | 25%, 2025; 50%, 2026 |
| Textile N95 respirators, other textile respirators and other textile face masks | 6307.90.9842, 6307.90.9844, 6307.90.9850, 6307.90.9875 | 50%, 2026 (USTR: for most mask numbers, 25% in 2024) |
Source: USTR, Section 301 Modifications Determination, Federal Register notice dated September 12, 2024 (annex tables and the notice’s discussion of facemasks), checked October 30, 2026. The notice states that for most mask and respirator numbers the first step is 25% in 2024, with the exception of 6307.90.9870 (25% in 2025).
Why these rates
- Syringes and needles. USTR wrote that these items are “critical to U.S. preparedness in responding to public health emergencies” and that alternative sources must be maintained, and set 100% in 2024.
- Gloves. The notice records comments that production is concentrated in China and Malaysia and comments opposing the increase because it could raise the cost of medical care. USTR still set 50% in 2025 and 100% in 2026.
- Face masks. USTR stated the increase would protect recent investments in domestic production and encourage diversification away from China. It chose a later step to 50% in 2026 partly because commenters asked for gradual increases.
Timing: which entry date applies
Under the notice, the 2024 increases apply to goods entered or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption on or after September 27, 2024. The 2025 and 2026 increases apply on or after January 1 of the corresponding year. The date that counts is the entry date, so the same shipment can fall under a different step depending on when it is entered. The importing party on the entry is the importer of record, and entries are typically supported by a customs bond.
Exclusions and the enteral syringe carve-out
USTR excluded enteral syringes, described in statistical reporting number 9018.31.0080, for entries from September 27, 2024 until before January 1, 2026, after commenters reported limited availability outside China and said the proposed increase would affect the supply of enteral syringes. The notice does not state an extension of that carve-out.
Separately, a USTR notice published December 1, 2025 (90 FR 55232) extended 178 existing product exclusions through 11:59 p.m. eastern daylight time on November 9, 2026. That notice does not describe those exclusions as medical products, so it should not be read as covering the items above. Check the current USTR and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announcements for anything newer.
Where it matters for labs, clinics and supply decisions
A short checklist built only from the notice’s own mechanics:
- Confirm the product is “of China” in the customs sense; the headings apply to products of China.
- Find the HTSUS subheading, and for masks the 10-digit statistical reporting number, on the entry documents and compare it with the table above.
- Compare the entry date with September 27, 2024, January 1, 2025 and January 1, 2026.
- Check whether an exclusion applies, including the enteral syringe carve-out dates.
- Check the current Chapter 99 headings in the HTSUS before relying on any rate quoted here, since the notice is a 2024 determination and later actions may exist.
The notice names a CBP contact for classification and exclusion implementation questions: [email protected]. Imported consumables for research use may also involve duty drawback questions, and cross-border sample movements are covered in shipping biological samples internationally.
Common misunderstandings
- “All medical devices are tariffed.” No. Only the listed subheadings are changed by this notice.
- “The rate depends on the order date.” The notice ties the step to the entry date.
- “Enteral syringes are permanently exempt.” The carve-out in the notice runs through the end of 2025 entries.
FAQ
What are Section 301 tariffs?
Additional duties imposed by USTR on products of China under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. The September 2024 notice modified them after a four-year review.
Are there tariffs on medical devices from China?
Only on the listed items in this notice: syringes and needles (9018.31 and 9018.32), medical gloves (4015.12.10) and textile face masks and respirators (6307.90.98 numbers). Other devices are not named.
Which medical supplies from China are covered?
The table above lists them with their rates. Items such as syringes, needles, gloves and masks are named; check the HTSUS classification of any other supply.
What were the syringe and needle rates?
100% from September 27, 2024, up from a proposed 50%, with enteral syringes excluded for entries before January 1, 2026.
Sources
- USTR, Section 301 Modifications Determination, Federal Register notice (September 12, 2024): ustr.gov notice PDF, checked October 30, 2026.
- USTR press release, September 13, 2024: USTR finalizes action on China tariffs, checked October 30, 2026.
- USTR notice, 90 FR 55232-55233 (December 1, 2025): govinfo.gov, checked October 30, 2026.
