US : Modifications of Reciprocal Tariff Rates (Effective on 10 April 2025) and De Minimis Tariff Increase for Products of China (including Products of Hong Kong) (Effective on 2 May 2025)

24-hour hotline : 23 922 922

e-mail address : enquiry@tid.gov.hk

Ref. :EIC 111/3
 EIC 111/3/13

11 April 2025
(Last updated on 22 April 2025)

Dear Sirs,

Further to Commercial Information Circulars (CICs) No. 309/2025 and No. 310/2025 dated 3 April 2025, No. 327/2025 dated 9 April 2025 and No. 345/2025 dated 10 April 2025 on US’ reciprocal tariff and duties as applied to low-value imports from China (including Hong Kong), the US President on 9 April 2025 signed an executive order (i) modifying reciprocal tariff rates of trading partners of which the reciprocal tariff for articles of China (including articles of Hong Kong) is amended to 125% effective on 10 April 2025; and (ii) increasing the de minimis tariff for products of China (including products of Hong Kong) starting 2 May 2025.

DETAILS

2.On 2 April 2025, the US President signed an executive order imposing a reciprocal tariff of an additional ad valorem duty on all imports from all trading partners. All articles imported into the customs territory of the US shall be subject to an additional ad valorem rate of duty of 10% on 5 April 2025 and all articles from specified trading partners imported into the customs territory of the US shall be subject to the specified country-specific ad valorem rates of duty on 9 April 2025. On the same date, the US President also signed an executive order announcing that duty-free de minimis treatment shall no longer be available for products of China (which include products of Hong Kong) on 2 May 2025 and such imported merchandise shall be subject to additional duties.

3.Subsequently, on 8 April 2025, the US President signed an executive order amending the reciprocal tariff of an additional ad valorem duty for articles of China (including articles of Hong Kong) from 34% to 84%, effective on 9 April 2025; and  updating the additional duties as applied to low-value imports from China (including Hong Kong) starting 2 May 2025.

4.Irrespective of the US’ announcements in paragraphs 2 and 3 above, on 9 April 2025, the US President signed an executive order (i) modifying reciprocal tariff rates of trading partners effective on 10 April 2025; and (ii) increasing the de minimis tariff for products of China (including products of Hong Kong) starting 2 May 2025.

• On (i), among others, the reciprocal tariff of an additional ad valorem duty for articles of China (including articles of Hong Kong) is amended from 84% to 125% effective on 10 April 2025. Besides, effective with respect to goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption on 10 April 2025, enforcement of the country-specific ad valorem rates of duty is suspended until 9 July 2025. Effective on 10 April 2025 and until 9 July 2025, all articles imported into the customs territory of the US from the specified trading partners shall be subject to an additional ad valorem rate of duty of 10%. 
• As for (ii) increasing the de minimis tariff for products of China (including products of Hong Kong), all relevant postal items containing goods that are sent through the international postal network that are valued at or under US$800 and that would otherwise qualify for the de minimis exemption are subject to a further increased duty rate of either 120% of their value or a further increased tariff of US$100 per item on 2 May 2025 (increasing to US$200 per item on 1 June 2025).

5.For further details, please refer to the US President’s executive order, the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP)’s messages and the Federal Register (FR) notice:

The US President’s executive order (9 April 2025)
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/04/modifying-reciprocal-tariff-rates-to-reflect-trading-partner-retaliation-and-alignment/

US CBP’s Cargo Systems Messaging Service Message - Updated Guidance - Reciprocal Tariffs - Increase in Rate for China and Reversion of Other Country-Specific Rates, Effective April 10, 2025
https://content.govdelivery.com/bulletins/gd/USDHSCBP-3db42c8?wgt_ref=USDHSCBP_WIDGET_2

US CBP’s Cargo Systems Messaging Service Message - Guidance - ACE Processing of De Minimis Shipments Per Executive Order 14256 Issued April 2, 2025, as Amended by Subsequent Orders
https://content.govdelivery.com/bulletins/gd/USDHSCBP-3dca7b6?wgt_ref=USDHSCBP_WIDGET_2

FR notice (15 April 2025)
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2025-04-15/pdf/2025-06462.pdf

6.For enquiries concerning the content of this circular, please contact us at telephone number 2398 5405.

Yours faithfully,

(Miss Kwany KOU)
for Director-General of Trade and Industry

Note: While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the above information, the Department cannot guarantee this to be so and will not be held liable for any reliance placed on the same.