Taiwan tariffs in 2026: what the US actually charges.
US tariff policy changed twice in 2026, and most of what ranks for "Taiwan tariffs" is news coverage of a rate that no longer applies. Here is the current rate, how it got here, and what it means if you import Taiwan-made goods.
Bottom line: As of July 2026, Taiwan-origin goods carry a 10% additional US tariff under Section 301 (effective July 24, 2026) — the lowest additional rate among covered trading partners, and roughly ~25 percentage points below typical China-origin stacks. It sits on top of each product's base MFN rate.
How 2026 got here: the timeline
The single most confusing thing about Taiwan's US tariff rate is that three different numbers were true at different points this year. The sequence:
| When | What changed |
|---|---|
| February 2026 | The Supreme Court strikes down the IEEPA-based tariff program; the prior "reciprocal" rates lose their legal basis. |
| February 2026 | The US–Taiwan reciprocal-trade agreement caps Taiwan’s additional rate at 15%. |
| February – July 2026 | A temporary Section 122 import surcharge bridges the gap. Section 122 authority is capped by statute at 150 days; the surcharge sunsets July 24, 2026. |
| July 24, 2026 | A new Section 301 action takes effect: Taiwan at 10% — the lowest additional rate among covered partners — while typical China-origin stacks reach ~35–40%. |
If you're reading coverage of Taiwan tariffs, check its date against this sequence — pre–July 24 articles describe a surcharge that has already sunset.
What the 10% applies to
The 10% is an additional rate, not the whole duty. Every imported product has a base MFN rate set by its HTS classification; the Taiwan rate stacks on top of that. For HMI hardware — our corner of this — base rates run from duty-free to 5.3% depending on classification. The full breakdown, with HTS headings, is in our guide to tariffs on membrane switches & HMI components.
The lowest additional rate among covered trading partners as of late July 2026, replacing the 15% cap set by the February 2026 US–Taiwan reciprocal-trade agreement.
Taiwan vs China: the gap is the story
Rates moved all year; the relative position didn't. Taiwan-origin goods have carried a materially lower additional duty than China-origin through every 2026 change:
| Origin | Additional US rate | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Taiwan | 10% | Section 301 (effective July 24, 2026) |
| China | ~35–40% | existing Section 301 list duties (commonly 25%) + new forced-labor Section 301 (12.5%) + MFN base |
Product-dependent and stacked; the exact figure varies by HTS subheading and Section 301 list coverage. For a full sourcing comparison beyond duty — quality, IP, lead time — see Taiwan vs China.
The catch: origin has to be real
The Taiwan rate only applies to goods that are genuinely Taiwan-origin under the substantial transformation test (19 CFR 134.1). Goods made elsewhere and routed through Taiwan to borrow its rate face an additional 40% transshipment duty (HTSUS 9903.02.01), with no mitigation, stacked on the actual-origin duty — and the liability lands on the importer of record. That penalty, and how to stay clear of it, is covered in the HMI tariff guide.
Why we track this
Essen Industries supplies Taiwan-made HMI hardware to US OEMs as the US vendor of record — we're the importer of record, so the rate on this page is a line item in our delivered prices, not a talking point. Parts are made in Taiwan with origin documentation on every shipment. If the rate changes, our quotes change; this page gets re-reviewed either way.
Sources
Frequently asked
What is the current US tariff on goods from Taiwan?
As of July 2026, Taiwan-origin goods carry a 10% additional US tariff under Section 301 (effective July 24, 2026) — the lowest additional rate among covered trading partners — on top of the base MFN rate for each product's HTS classification. Rates are volatile; confirm current figures with a licensed customs broker.
Did the US and Taiwan sign a trade agreement in 2026?
Yes — a February 2026 US–Taiwan reciprocal-trade agreement capped Taiwan's additional rate at 15%. The Section 301 action effective July 24, 2026 replaced that cap with a lower 10% rate.
How do Taiwan tariffs compare to China tariffs?
Taiwan-origin goods (10%) currently sit roughly ~25 percentage points below typical China-origin stacks (~35–40%, product-dependent). That gap has held through every 2026 rate change.
Do all Taiwanese products pay the same tariff rate?
No. The 10% is an additional rate that sits on top of each product's base MFN rate, which is set by its HTS classification. And the goods must genuinely be Taiwan-origin under the substantial-transformation test — goods transshipped through Taiwan to disguise another origin face an additional 40% penalty (HTSUS 9903.02.01).
Importing from Taiwan — or thinking about it?
If it's HMI hardware, send the drawing or a sample. We'll quote it delivered — Taiwan duty, freight, and brokerage already in the number.