Tariffs on Chinese-made robots in the US (2026): Section 301, the Section 232 robotics outcome and what's excluded

Short answer: As of November 2026, a robot made in China pays three layers of US import duty: the normal (column 1) duty, the 2018 Section 301 duty on China (25% for the usual robot tariff numbers) and, since 2026-07-24, the separate Section 301 forced-labor duty of 12.5%. For the most common code, industrial robots under HTSUS 8479.50, that is 2.5% + 25% + 12.5% = about 40% of the customs value. The IEEPA tariffs of 2025 (fentanyl and "reciprocal") ended after the Supreme Court ruling of 2026-02-20 and can be refunded; the temporary Section 122 tariff expired on 2026-07-23. The Section 232 investigation into robotics and industrial machinery ended on 2026-10-28 with no new tariff for now: negotiations first, a report within 180 days (around 2027-04-26), and tariffs or quotas still possible later. Separately, three robot-related codes (8428.70, 8427.10 and parts under 8479.90.95) are on the Section 232 steel derivatives list, which applies when steel is at least 15% of the weight. USTR extended the remaining Section 301 product exclusions to 2027-01-09 (USTR notice, 91 FR 72610 (Nov. 10, 2026)), but none of them covers robot whole-unit numbers, so robot totals are unchanged. Shipping through Canada does not change any of this: Section 301 follows the country of origin, not the country of export.

This page is for robot makers from China selling into the United States, and for US buyers and distributors who import their robots. KeepRobots is a robot field service company in Vancouver; we are not a customs broker and do not act as importer of record. Rates and rules below come from the USITC tariff schedule (HTSUS 2026 Revision 22), the Federal Register, USTR, CBP and the White House. They were checked on 2026-11-01, with the Section 301 exclusion status checked on 2026-11-10. Sources are listed at the end. US tariffs changed several times in 2026, so have a licensed customs broker confirm each entry on the day. This is not customs, tax or legal advice. A Chinese version is linked at the end.

The layers, at a glance

Totals by tariff number

US duty is calculated per HTSUS number, and the same robot can land on very different totals depending on classification. These are common candidate numbers, not rulings: your broker decides the classification, and a CBP binding ruling settles it.

Note: ad valorem rates on the customs value, before the merchandise processing fee and harbor maintenance fee. A Section 232 derivative duty applies only if steel is at least 15% of the goods' weight; goods that pay it do not also pay the 12.5% forced-labor duty, but the 2018 Section 301 duty still applies. For 8479.89.95 we could not confirm from the schedule whether a Section 232 derivative list applies (the entry uses a retired statistical number), but the total is 40% either way. Rates from USITC HTSUS chapters 84 and 99, checked 2026-11-01.

Worked example: a China-origin industrial robot classified under 8479.50 with a transaction value of US$30,000 pays 2.5% general duty ($750), 25% Section 301 List 1 ($7,500) and 12.5% forced-labor 301 ($3,750): $12,000, plus port fees and brokerage. If the same machine were classified under 8427.10 with more than 15% steel by weight, the total would be 50%, or $15,000. The $3,000 difference comes from classification alone, so settle it first.

• Customs value: normally the transaction value; international freight and insurance from the export country to the US are not included (19 CFR 152.102(f)). Classification, value and origin are the three things to settle with your broker, and the last two are what CBP audits after the fact.
• Price robots and spare parts separately: parts carry different numbers and different 301 coverage. A battery pack imported alone is 8507.60.
• No more de minimis: the US$800 de minimis exemption no longer applies to commercial shipments. A February 2026 executive order removed it regardless of value, origin or mode, CBP suspended it indefinitely for all non-postal channels from 2026-06-24, and the statute repeals it on 2027-07-01. Splitting spare parts into small courier parcels no longer avoids duty.

Section 301: two layers, both in force

The 2018 China lists

From 2018 USTR added Section 301 duties on Chinese goods in several lists. Industrial robots (8479.50) are on List 1 at 25%, together with handling robots (8428.70), electric trucks (8427.10) and parts (8479.90.95). Other machines (8479.89.95), robot vacuums (8508.11) and control boards (8537.10.91) are on List 3, also 25%. Lithium-ion batteries (8507.60) were raised to 25% from 2026-01-01 after the 2024 four-year review. USTR's notice of 2026-10-07 says these actions continue, and a second four-year review is under way, so rates may change.

Exclusions: extended, but not for robots

USTR's remaining Section 301 product exclusions (HTSUS 9903.88.69 and 9903.88.70, listed in chapter 99, subchapter III, U.S. notes 20(vvv) and 20(www)) were due to expire on 2026-11-09 and have been extended to 2027-01-09 (USTR notice, 91 FR 72610 (Nov. 10, 2026); 178 exclusions, checked 2026-11-10). We read every entry. None covers a robot whole-unit number such as 8479.50, 8479.89.95, 8428.70, 8427.10 or 8508.11. The robot-related entries are a programmable desktop robot no larger than 40 cm high, 22 cm wide and 27 cm deep with an LCD display, camera and microphone and no "hands" (8543.70.9860), several small DC and single-phase AC motors defined by power, size or unit value (8501.10.4060, 8501.31.2000, 8501.31.4000, 8501.40.40) and bare 2- and 4-layer printed circuit boards (8534.00). For those, the 2018 duty does not apply until the new expiry date, but the 12.5% forced-labor duty does. Each exclusion is limited to the exact product description, so have your broker check the wording against your product. Do not plan on exclusions: they are temporary and narrow.

Drawback: CBP's drawback FAQ confirms the 2018 Section 301 duty can be refunded through drawback (up to 99%) when goods are exported unused, for example re-exported to a customer in Canada.

The forced-labor 301 duty (since 2026-07-24)

This is USTR's multi-country Section 301 action on economies that do not effectively prohibit imports of forced-labor goods (91 FR 47318). CBP calls it the "Section 301 Forced Labor Import Duties". It adds 12.5% on products of China (heading 9903.05.31) and 10% on products of Canada (9903.05.29; Canadian goods entered duty-free under USMCA are exempt), effective 2026-07-24. It stacks on top of the general duty and the 2018 Section 301 duty. Exemptions include computers (8471) and goods that pay a Section 232 derivative duty; robot tariff numbers are not exempt. For goods repaired abroad and re-entered under 9802, it applies to the value of the repair.

Section 232 robotics: "no tariff for now" (2026-10-28)

The Commerce Department opened a Section 232 investigation into imports of robotics and industrial machinery on 2025-09-02 (Federal Register notice of 2025-09-26). On 2026-10-28 the President signed Proclamation 11077 (published 2026-11-02). It finds that these imports threaten US national security but imposes no tariff. Instead it directs Commerce and USTR to negotiate with trading partners and report within 180 days, and it says tariffs, quotas or fees may be considered depending on the outcome. It lists no tariff numbers and does not amend the tariff schedule. This is separate from the Section 232 steel derivatives above, which are an extension of the steel action and are already being collected.

What to do about it: quotes today do not need a Section 232 robotics line, but contracts running into 2027 should say who pays any new duty and how prices adjust. Counting 180 days from 2026-10-28 puts the next date to watch at around 2027-04-26.

IEEPA and Section 122: no longer charged, and refundable

The 2025 tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), including the fentanyl tariff on China and the reciprocal tariffs, ended after the Supreme Court held in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump (2026-02-20) that IEEPA does not authorize tariffs; Executive Order 14389 terminated them the same day. Importers claim refunds through CBP's CAPE process (launched 2026-04-20) in ACE, by entry, so the importer of record on those entries files. If your US customer or distributor was the importer, the refund is theirs to claim. The IEEPA-era 40% transshipment penalty fell away with that system, but the penalties for misstating origin are in a different law and still apply (see below). The Section 122 tariff of 10% that followed (from 2026-02-24) expired at the end of 2026-07-23 with no replacement; the forced-labor 301 duty is what came next.

Does routing through Canada help? Origin decides

A common idea: ship the robots to Canada first (Canada charges no duty on most robots), then send them on to the US. It does not reduce US duty:

• Origin, not export country: CBP's Section 301 FAQ: "Section 301 duties are based on country of origin, not country of export."
• Storage, repacking and labelling do not change origin: under 19 CFR 134.1(b) only a substantial transformation in a third country changes the country of origin; for goods of a USMCA country, the tariff-shift rules of Part 102 apply (19 CFR 102.11). A Chinese robot that sat in a Vancouver warehouse is still of Chinese origin. It pays the China rates, not Canada's 10% forced-labor rate (our reading of the rules; CBP has not addressed this exact case).
• Assembly in Canada may differ, but the bar is high: the USMCA Annex 4-B rule for 8479.50 is a change from any other subheading, with no regional value content. Assembling a robot in Canada from 8479.90 parts might meet it on paper. A robot shipped as an unassembled kit is already classified as 8479.50 under General Rule of Interpretation 2(a), so there is no change of subheading. And CBP has not said which origin rules decide Section 301 origin for such goods. Talk to a broker and ask CBP for a binding ruling first.
• Getting origin wrong is expensive: under 19 U.S.C. 1592, penalties go up to four times the lost duties for gross negligence and twice for negligence (capped at the domestic value of the goods), and up to the domestic value for fraud. Prior disclosure reduces them.
• US–Canada measures do not change this: Canada's surtaxes on US goods and the US Section 338 action on Canada apply to goods of those two countries. As of 2026-10-30 the Section 338 list did not include 8479.50, 8428.70, 8479.89.95, 8479.90.95 or 8427.10.

Lawful ways to lower the bill

• Classify correctly, and early: the general rate and 301 coverage both depend on the number. If in doubt, ask CBP for a binding ruling (19 CFR Part 177). Do not pick a number to save duty.
• Get the price structure right: work out with your broker which software licences, cloud fees, training and field service charges belong in the customs value and which do not, and keep contracts and invoices consistent with what actually happens.
• Drawback: the 2018 Section 301 duty is refundable on goods exported unused. We found no official statement on drawback of the forced-labor 301 duty; ask your broker.
• Repair in North America instead of shipping back: a robot repaired in China comes back dutiable on the repair value, including Section 301 if its number is listed. See shipping a robot back to China for repair. A repair done locally crosses no border and pays no duty.
• Hold spare parts on the right side of the border: every crossing between the US and Canada is a new import, so stock parts where the robots are.

US or Canada first? Tariffs are one input

Canada charges no duty on most China-origin robots (8479.50 and 8428.70 are Free at the most-favoured-nation rate), plus 5% GST at import, which is recoverable for registered businesses. Canada's 2024 surtaxes on Chinese goods now cover only steel and aluminum chapters (72, 73 and 76), not robots or chapter 84/85 parts. So the same 8479.50 robot pays about 40% entering the US and no duty entering Canada. The US market is an order of magnitude bigger, though, and FCC status, certification and service coverage matter as much as duty: see US or Canada first? and FCC Covered List and robots. The FCC question is the bigger one. A new foreign-produced mobile robot model that cannot be authorized cannot be sold at any duty rate.

Checklist before you quote a US customer

1. A candidate HTSUS number for each SKU (robot, dock, battery pack, common spares), confirmed in writing by your broker; a binding ruling where it is unclear.
2. For each number: the general rate, the chapter 99 entries for Section 301 and the forced-labor 301 duty, any Section 232 derivative listing, and whether any exclusion applies.
3. Origin: where each operation happens; a written substantial-transformation analysis for any third-country processing.
4. Who is the importer of record: your US entity, the customer or a distributor, and who pays duty, in the contract.
5. A tariff clause: how prices change if the Section 232 robotics outcome or another duty lands in 2027.
6. For re-exports to Canada: who files drawback and who keeps the records (US import records are generally kept for five years, 19 CFR 163.4).
7. FCC authorization status of each model. If that fails, the duty math does not matter.

What KeepRobots can do

We are not an importer of record or a customs broker, and we do not do tariff planning. What we do reduces the border crossings after the sale: once robots are in the US or Canada, we deploy and commission them, repair them on site by the hour and run preventive maintenance, so failed robots and modules are fixed locally instead of being shipped back to China and re-imported. We can hold spare parts and spare units in Vancouver for customers in Western Canada and the US Pacific Northwest. Our engineers read Chinese technical documents and work with your home team's hours.

Current published rates, before tax: diagnostic C$200 per robot, per visit in Canada or US$200 in the US (credited when you approve the repair); C$100 call-out in the Greater Vancouver core zone; on-site labour C$150/hour in Canada or US$150/hour in the US; travel outside the core zone and for US projects is quoted per project. See robot repair and field service in the USA and robot after-sales service in North America for robot manufacturers, or write to partners@keeprobots.com with the robot model, the customer's city and the service you need.

FAQ

How much US duty does a China-made robot pay in 2026?

It depends on the tariff number. For the most common one, 8479.50 industrial robots: 2.5% general duty + 25% Section 301 (2018 List 1) + 12.5% Section 301 forced-labor duty since 2026-07-24, about 40% in total. 8428.70, 8427.10 and parts under 8479.90.95 are on the Section 232 steel derivatives list and are calculated under Section 232 when steel is at least 15% of the weight (40% or 50% in total). Have your broker confirm the HTSUS on the day of entry.

Did the Section 232 robotics investigation add a tariff?

Not yet. Proclamation 11077 of 2026-10-28 found that robotics and industrial machinery imports threaten US national security but imposed no tariff. It ordered negotiations and a report within 180 days (around 2027-04-26), after which tariffs, quotas or fees may be considered. It lists no tariff numbers.

Are Chinese robots excluded from Section 301?

Not the usual robot tariff numbers. USTR extended its remaining Section 301 exclusions to 2027-01-09 (USTR notice, 91 FR 72610 (Nov. 10, 2026)), but none covers 8479.50, 8479.89.95, 8428.70, 8427.10 or 8508.11. The robot-related entries are a small programmable desktop robot (8543.70.9860), several small motors and bare circuit boards. 2018 Section 301 duty is refundable through drawback when goods are exported unused.

Do I still pay IEEPA tariffs, and can I get them back?

No, they ended after the Supreme Court ruling of 2026-02-20 and Executive Order 14389. Duties already paid are refunded through CBP's CAPE process in ACE, filed by entry, so the importer of record on those entries (or their broker) files the claim.

Can I avoid US tariffs by shipping Chinese robots through Canada?

No. Section 301 is based on country of origin, not country of export. Storage, repacking or labelling in Canada does not change origin. Assembly in Canada might, under substantial transformation and USMCA rules, but get a CBP binding ruling first; gross negligence on origin can cost up to four times the lost duties.

What does KeepRobots do, and what does it cost?

We are not an importer or broker. We deploy, repair and maintain robots on site in Canada and the US so failed robots are fixed locally instead of crossing borders, and we can hold spare parts in Vancouver. Rates before tax: diagnostic C$200 / US$200 per robot, per visit (credited when you approve the repair), C$100 Greater Vancouver call-out, labour C$150/hour in Canada or US$150/hour in the US; travel outside the core zone and US projects quoted per project.

Sources (checked 2026-11-01; Section 301 exclusions checked 2026-11-10)

• USITC, Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, 2026 Revision 22 (chapters 84, 85, 99): hts.usitc.gov
• USTR, Continuation of Section 301 actions on China, 91 FR 64212 (2026-10-07): federalregister.gov
• USTR, Section 301 product exclusion extensions to 2026-11-09, 90 FR 55232 (2025-12-01): federalregister.gov
• USTR, extension of Section 301 product exclusions, USTR notice, 91 FR 72610 (Nov. 10, 2026): federalregister.gov
• USTR, Section 301 forced-labor actions, 91 FR 47318 (2026-07-28): federalregister.gov
• USTR, Section 301 four-year review modifications, 89 FR 76581 (2024-09-18): federalregister.gov
• CBP, Section 301 FAQs (country of origin): cbp.gov
• CBP, drawback and trade remedies FAQs: cbp.gov
• Commerce, Section 232 robotics and industrial machinery investigation, 90 FR 46382 (2025-09-26): federalregister.gov
• Proclamation 11077, Adjusting Imports of Robotics, Industrial Machinery, and Their Parts and Components, 91 FR 69199 (2026-11-02): federalregister.gov
• Supreme Court, Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump (2026-02-20): supremecourt.gov
• Executive Order 14389, Ending Certain Tariff Actions, 91 FR 9437: federalregister.gov
• CBP, IEEPA duty refunds (CAPE): cbp.gov
• CBP, de minimis suspension interim final rule, 91 FR 37789 (2026-06-24): govinfo.gov
• CBP CSMS 70314289, Section 338 Canada list update (2026-10-30): govdelivery.com
• 19 CFR 134.1 and 102.11 (country of origin): ecfr.gov, ecfr.gov
• 19 CFR 152.102 (transaction value) and 163.4 (record retention): ecfr.gov, ecfr.gov
• 19 CFR Part 177 (binding rulings): ecfr.gov
• 19 U.S.C. 1592 (penalties): govinfo.gov
• USMCA Chapter 4, Rules of Origin (Annex 4-B): ustr.gov
• CBSA, Customs Tariff 2026, chapter 84: cbsa-asfc.gc.ca

Chinese version: 机器人出口美国 2026 关税怎么算？301、232 调查和其他附加税一览

This page summarises public sources for orientation only. Tariff rates were checked on 2026-11-01 and Section 301 exclusion status on 2026-11-10. It is not customs, tax or legal advice; have a licensed customs broker confirm the classification, value, origin and rates for each entry. KeepRobots is not a customs broker or importer of record. Rates are KeepRobots' current published rates, before tax, and may change.