Kuwait Tariff Rates 2026: 12.5% on US Imports
As of 2026-10-09, US imports from Kuwait carry an effective tariff of about 12.5%. This combines the 12.5% Section 301 forced-labor baseline (which replaced Section 122 on July 24, 2026) applied to countries without a separate deal, with Section 232 metals tariffs of 50% on steel and 50% on aluminum charged separately. The 10% Section 122 tariff (effective Feb 24, 2026) expired at its 150-day limit on July 24, 2026 and was replaced the same day by the Section 301 forced-labor tariff (10%, or 12.5% for higher-tier economies).
Last verified October 9, 2026 · Source: USITC HTS · Section 301 forced-labor / 232 · run your exact numbers
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What's your Kuwait tariff refund score?
The Supreme Court struck down the 2025 IEEPA tariffs and a $166B refund pool is open. See your personalized refund opportunity & filing roadmap.
Illustrative analysis only — not legal, tax, or customs advice. Eligibility and amounts are determined by CBP; filing is handled by licensed professionals.
IEEPA refunds — illustrative, not a personal claim
Paid IEEPA duty on imports from Kuwait in 2025–early 2026?
The Supreme Court struck down IEEPA reciprocal (and fentanyl/trafficking) tariffs on February 20, 2026. The Importer of Record — or the licensed broker who filed the original entries — can seek that IEEPA layer back through CBP’s CAPE process. This is not a consumer check, and it is not a guaranteed amount.
- Who can file: the original Importer of Record (or that entry’s filing broker), not the retail customer.
- Window: IEEPA duties collected from early 2025 through February 24, 2026 (reciprocal rates generally from April 2025; China/Canada/Mexico fentanyl layers started earlier).
- Not refundable: Section 232 (steel/aluminum/autos), China Section 301, MFN base duty, or the current Section 301 forced-labor tariff / EU 15% deal rate.
Illustrative example only: $50,000 of IEEPA-period imports from Kuwait at the published 10% IEEPA rate carried about $5,000 of IEEPA duty. That IEEPA layer — plus statutory interest (6–7% compounded daily under 19 CFR 24.36) — is what CAPE can refund. Your actual figure comes from your 7501s, not this example.
Have not filed
Only the Importer of Record can claim the IEEPA layer through CAPE.
How to claim an IEEPA refundAlready filed
Status is in ACE (REV-615), not a shopping-site tracker.
Check CAPE status · When money arrivesOverview on the tariff-refunds hub. Phase 3 for finally liquidated entries launches October 6, 2026 for CIT plaintiffs only. Illustrative analysis — not a guaranteed amount.
Contingency filing via Tariff Recovery Today (powered by Irongate), in partnership with Master Plan. No recovery, no fee. Not legal advice.
Section 232 rates shown apply to articles wholly of steel, aluminum, or copper. Since the April 6, 2026 restructuring, qualifying derivative products are dutied at 25% on their full customs value rather than 50%. Verify your product’s classification — the exact 232 treatment depends on HTS code and metal content.
Kuwait Import Tariff Overview
Kuwait faces the 12.5% Section 301 forced-labor tariff (which replaced Section 122 on July 24, 2026) on US imports. Kuwait is a significant oil exporter, and its production has been severely disrupted by the Strait of Hormuz closure since March 2026.
US imports from Kuwait total approximately $8 billion annually, primarily crude oil and petrochemicals. Kuwait's oil exports transit the Strait of Hormuz, making them directly affected by the ongoing blockade.
Key Products Imported from Kuwait
Crude oil, petroleum products, chemicals, fertilizers, and plastics are Kuwait's main exports to the US. Crude oil enters at 0% MFN duty; the supply disruption during the Hormuz closure drove global prices to a peak of $118/bbl, and Brent has fallen to approximately $83/bbl after Iran reopened the strait on April 17, 2026.
Recent Changes
Kuwaiti oil production shut in as part of the broader Gulf disruption from March through April 17, 2026. The US naval blockade of Hormuz (April 12-17) restricted shipping through the strait. Iran reopened the strait on April 17; commercial traffic resuming.
Tips for Importers
The impact on US importers was primarily through higher energy costs and supply chain disruptions rather than direct tariff changes during the closure. With the strait reopened, energy costs should begin easing — factor declining oil prices into updated landed cost calculations for all imports.
How Are US Tariffs on Kuwait Imports Calculated?
US import duties on goods from Kuwait are determined by multiple overlapping tariff authorities. The base layer is the 12.5% Section 301 forced-labor tariff, which replaced the expired 10% Section 122 tariff on July 24, 2026 and applies to most countries without a separate trade deal. Section 232 tariffs of 50% on steel and 50% on aluminum apply to metals imports, regardless of the forced-labor tariff.
To calculate the total duty on a specific import from Kuwait, use our US import duty calculator or landed cost calculator for a complete estimate including Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF) and Harbor Maintenance Fee (HMF). You can also compare Kuwait rates with other countries to evaluate sourcing alternatives.
Already importing from Kuwait? If you paid IEEPA duty in 2025–early 2026, start with how to claim an IEEPA refund, the tariff-refunds hub, and CAPE refund status. And if you re-export or manufacture with imported goods, duty drawback can recover up to 99% of eligible duties — a separate program from CAPE.
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Note: Rates shown do not include potential anti-dumping or countervailing duties (AD/CVD), which may apply to specific products and can significantly increase total duty. Consult a customs broker for product-specific rates.