USTR extends selected China Section 301 suspensions and product exclusions

Maritime suspension to 9 January

The final maritime notice suspends the specified Section 301 actions from 9 November 2026 until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on 9 January 2027. During that period, the service fees in Annexes I to III and the cargo-handling-equipment duties in Annex V.A are suspended. The notice also amends the relevant Harmonized Tariff Schedule notes, including headings 9903.91.12 through 9903.91.16, to reflect the new end date.^[1]

Existing product exclusions extended

A separate final notice extends 178 existing product exclusions covered by HTSUS headings 9903.88.69 and 9903.88.70. For qualifying goods, the extension applies to merchandise entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, from 10 November 2026 until before 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on 9 January 2027. Eligibility remains governed by the ten-digit classifications and product descriptions in the notice; the extension is not a general suspension of China Section 301 duties.^[2]

Entry and contract controls

Importers should match each product against the complete tariff classification, statistical reporting number and descriptive limits, rather than relying on a commercial product name. Shipping groups and equipment users should separately identify whether a fee, equipment duty or product exclusion is in scope. Other customs duties, fees and trade remedies continue unless another provision changes them.^[1][2]

Short final window

The notices are final administrative actions rather than proposals, but they provide only a two-month bridge. Groups should preserve classification and entry evidence, update landed-cost and contract assumptions through the stated January cut-off, and monitor USTR and US Customs and Border Protection for entry instructions or a later action. This final stage is distinct from USTR's October proposal to suspend the maritime action and does not establish what will apply after 9 January 2027.^[1][2]