Trade Remedies

Section 301 List 3

Also known as: List 3 · 301 List 3

The third and largest tranche of Section 301 tariffs on Chinese imports — approximately $200 billion in coverage, initially at 10% in September 2018, raised to 25% in May 2019.

List 3 is the third and largest of the original Section 301 tariff tranches on Chinese imports, announced by USTR on September 21, 2018 (83 FR 47974) and effective September 24, 2018. It covers approximately $200 billion in annual Chinese imports across roughly 5,745 HTS subheadings — a substantial portion of all U.S. imports from China.

List 3 took effect at an initial rate of 10% and was raised to 25% on May 10, 2019, following a stalled round of bilateral negotiations. The rate increase generated significant compliance complications, including the "in transit" rule (the higher rate didn't apply to goods exported before May 10 and entered before June 15, 2019).

List 3 product coverage is far broader than Lists 1 or 2 and includes a wide swath of consumer and industrial goods:

  • Furniture
  • Lighting fixtures
  • Handbags, luggage, and travel goods
  • Building materials, including stone, ceramics, and glass
  • Pumps, valves, and industrial fittings
  • Electrical equipment and components
  • Food products, seafood, and agricultural goods
  • Auto parts

List 3 duties are declared under Chapter 99 subheading 9903.88.03 and stack on top of the underlying Chapter 1–97 rate. USTR opened a List 3 exclusion process in mid-2019; granted exclusions were published as new Chapter 99 subheadings.

The May 2024 four-year review raised List 3 rates on certain strategic items — including lithium-ion EV batteries (to 25%), face masks and PPE (to 25%), and certain critical minerals.

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Related Terms

Section 301 Tariffs

Punitive tariffs imposed by USTR under the Trade Act of 1974 to address unfair foreign trade practices — most prominently against China since 2018.

Section 301 List 1

The first tranche of Section 301 tariffs on Chinese imports, imposing 25% duties on approximately $34 billion of aerospace, IT, semiconductor, and machinery products, effective July 6, 2018.

Section 301 List 2

The second tranche of Section 301 tariffs on Chinese imports, imposing 25% duties on approximately $16 billion of semiconductors, plastics, and chemicals, effective August 23, 2018.

Section 301 List 4A

The fourth tranche of Section 301 tariffs on Chinese imports, covering approximately $300 billion of consumer goods at 7.5% (originally 15%), effective September 1, 2019.

Tariff Exclusion Process

A USTR or Commerce administrative process allowing importers to request that specific products be excluded from Section 301 or Section 232 duties — granted exclusions appear as separate Chapter 99 provisions.

Chapter 99

Chapter 99 is the US-only HTS chapter where temporary tariff measures are applied, including Section 301, Section 232, and IEEPA duties, declared as a second 9903 line on the entry.
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