The “104%” China-tariff figure refers to an escalation in April 2025—not a dependable current tariff on every Chinese-made product. Official sources do not establish a universal list of U.S. goods that will cost more, or a standard price increase. The effect on any item depends on its customs classification, origin, applicable tariff measures and exclusions, and whether a seller passes any added import cost on to customers.
What did the 104% China-tariff figure mean?
It described a dated stage of the April 2025 tariff escalation. It should not be read as a standing 104% duty on all goods from China today. The White House changed rates and effective dates during that period, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued notices for specific implementation stages.
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- April 2, 2025: The reciprocal-tariff order established a 10% baseline and country-specific rates, subject to exceptions. Pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, energy products, lumber articles and certain critical minerals were among the categories excluded from that order’s ad valorem rates. Some goods covered by other measures, including certain Section 232 goods, were treated separately.
- April 8–9, 2025: The administration amended reciprocal rates as it responded to retaliation and other countries’ actions. For the April 9 implementation stage, CBP specified an 84% additional ad valorem rate on covered products from China, Hong Kong and Macau. That was a dated, stage-specific notice—not a current rate for those origins.
- May 2025: The Congressional Research Service’s timeline records a 90-day reduction from 125% to 10% on each side. That change is another reason not to treat a figure from the escalation as a lasting product-level rate.
The 84% additional rate in CBP’s April 9 notice and the “104%” figure in the headline are figures associated with the changing 2025 episode, not interchangeable instructions for calculating a present-day import duty.
What could cost more in the U.S.?
A product could face added import costs if its customs classification and country of origin bring it within an applicable tariff measure and it does not qualify for a relevant exclusion or other treatment. But the official material available here does not support naming a set of consumer products that will cost more now, ranking categories by impact, or assigning a price increase to a specific item.
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The April 2025 exceptions also matter: exclusion from that order’s ad valorem rates does not, by itself, establish that a product is exempt from every other duty or import charge. Other tariff authorities may apply to some goods, and product coverage can differ. A label, retailer listing or “made in China” description is not enough to determine the duty for a specific entry.
Why a tariff rate is not a retail-price increase
A tariff is an import duty, not a posted price change for shoppers. The rate alone does not show how much a particular retailer paid, whether the seller absorbed some of the cost, or whether and when a price changed. The official tariff sources cited here do not quantify retail pass-through for particular goods during the 104% episode.
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For that reason, applying 104% to an item’s shelf price would not be a reliable way to forecast what it will cost. A defensible estimate would need, at minimum, the item’s tariff classification, country-of-origin determination, applicable measures and exclusions, import-entry timing, and credible evidence about the seller’s pricing.
What the later tariff information does—and does not—show
In a February 2026 statement, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) said existing Section 301 tariffs on China ranged from 7.5% to 100%, depending on the product. It also described Section 232 tariffs as ranging from 10% to 50%, depending on the product. These are product-dependent tariff rates, not estimates of how much U.S. consumers’ prices rose.
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A September 2026 U.S.–China Board of Trade announcement discussed reciprocal consideration of listed goods for reduced rates, subject to each country’s laws and processes. It does not establish across-the-board tariff relief or a single current rate for Chinese-origin products. Together, the later statements reinforce that a specific product’s treatment must be checked individually rather than inferred from the 2025 headline.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to check a specific product
- Identify the exact item and its HTS classification. A product’s tariff classification is more specific than a broad retail category or country-of-origin label.
- Confirm the customs country of origin. The place of manufacture or substantial transformation can matter; a brand’s headquarters or the shipping country alone does not establish origin.
- Check the current treatment for that classification and entry date. Consult current CBP and HTS materials and USTR information, including any applicable exclusions. Historical 2025 orders and notices explain the earlier episode but should not be used as current duty instructions.
- Separate the import duty from the retail effect. Even after identifying applicable duties, a tariff rate does not establish the amount or timing of any change to a U.S. retail price.
For an actual import or a high-value purchase, a customs broker or trade-compliance professional can help assess classification and entry treatment. For an everyday shopping decision, do not assume that a product costs more—or will cost more—simply because it is associated with China or because the 104% headline appeared in 2025.
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