Covers nuclear reactors, boilers, turbines, engines, pumps, compressors, air conditioning, computers, and a wide range of industrial and office machinery.

2% avg

Chapter 85: Electrical Machinery

Encompasses electrical and electronic equipment including motors, generators, transformers, batteries, semiconductors, televisions, and telephones.

2.5% avg

Chapter 87: Vehicles (not Railway)

Encompasses motor vehicles, trucks, buses, motorcycles, bicycles, trailers, and vehicle parts and accessories for road transportation.

2.5% avg

Chapter 27: Mineral Fuels, Oils

Encompasses crude petroleum, natural gas, coal, coke, petroleum products, and bituminous substances used for energy and industrial purposes.

0.5% avg

Chapter 61: Knitted or Crocheted Clothing

Includes knitted or crocheted articles of apparel such as T-shirts, sweaters, hosiery, underwear, and other knitted garments.

14.5% avg

Major Ports of Entry

Port of Los AngelesPort of Long Beach

California is one of the largest importing state, with approximately $450B in annual imports.

Major ports of entry include Port of Los Angeles, Port of Long Beach, which handle the bulk of the state's international freight.

The top import partners for California are CN, MX, JP, and KR, VN. These trading relationships reflect both geographic proximity and industry concentration within the state.

Under the current tariff regime, California's importers face the Section 301 forced-labor tariff on most non-EU goods — a two-tier 10%/12.5% duty that replaced the flat 10% Section 122 rate on July 24, 2026 — while EU-origin goods fall under the EU-US trade deal's 15% all-inclusive ceiling as of July 1, 2026. Given the state's high import volume, even small tariff changes have outsized economic impact. The forced-labor tariff covers roughly 60 economies; in August 2026, 25 states sued to block it, but CBP continues collecting it while the case proceeds.

Key import product categories for California include goods from HTS chapters most relevant to the state's industrial base. Businesses in the state should monitor developments in Section 232 (metals), Section 301 (China), and the Section 301 forced-labor tariff (including the August 2026 states' suit challenging it).

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does California import annually?

California imports approximately $450 billion in goods annually. Major ports include Port of Los Angeles, Port of Long Beach.

What countries does California import from most?

California's top import partners are CN, MX, JP, KR, VN. These reflect the state's industry mix and geographic position.

How do tariffs affect businesses in California?

The Section 301 forced-labor tariff — a two-tier 10%/12.5% duty that replaced the flat 10% Section 122 rate on July 24, 2026 — affects most non-EU imports entering California, while EU-origin goods fall under the EU-US trade deal's 15% all-inclusive ceiling as of July 1, 2026. With $450B in annual imports, even a 1% tariff change represents 4.5 billion dollars in additional costs. Businesses should factor tariff costs into purchasing decisions and explore trade agreement benefits.