Custom Duty on Chemicals 2026: Navigate Duties, Cut Costs, Stay Compliant

Duty/Tax Type Name	Standard Rate or Rate Range
Ad Valorem Duty	0% - 6.5% (MFN)
Specific Duty	Varies by HTS code
Compound Duty	Percentage plus unit fee
Section 301	7.5% - 25% (China-specific)
Antidumping (AD/CVD)	0% - 200%+
Excise Tax	Varies (Chemical-specific)
Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF)	0.3464% (Ad Valorem)
Harbor Maintenance Fee (HMF)	0.125% (Sea cargo)

United States import duties for chemicals are structured primarily around the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) classifications. Most industrial chemicals fall within Chapters 28 and 29, where rates are determined by chemical composition and country of origin. The total landed cost is often influenced by trade remedy actions and administrative processing fees.

Ad Valorem: Calculated as a percentage of the customs value. It is the most common duty type for chemicals.
Specific: A fixed charge applied per unit of weight or volume. It applies to certain organic chemicals.
Compound: A combination of an ad valorem rate and a specific rate. Often used for complex chemical mixtures.
Section 301: Additional tariffs applied to goods from specific countries, notably China. Rates currently range from 7.5% to 25%.
Antidumping: Special duties imposed on chemicals sold at less than fair value. These rates can be extremely high to protect domestic producers.
Excise: Taxes levied on specific substances like ozone-depleting chemicals. Rates vary based on environmental impact.
MPF: The Merchandise Processing Fee is an administrative charge on most imports. It is calculated at 0.3464% of the value.
HMF: The Harbor Maintenance Fee applies to shipments arriving via sea. It is set at 0.125% of the cargo value.