US Tariff on Batteries from Mexico

Importing batteries from Mexico into the US in 2026 means navigating multiple tariff layers. The current total effective rate runs approximately 10% on most batteries imports under HTS chapters 85. The reciprocal rate on Mexico did not change after SCOTUS — IEEPA refunds are limited to importers who specifically paid the temporary IEEPA layer in 2025.

The current rate stack on batteries from Mexico breaks down as: the 10% Section 122 reciprocal tariff (effective February 24, 2026, set to expire July 24, 2026 unless extended), plus the MFN duty rate that depends on the specific HTS code, plus any product-specific surcharges.

For most importers, the 10% total represents a meaningful change from the pre-SCOTUS regime, when the IEEPA reciprocal layer pushed Mexico batteries imports to 10% effective. SCOTUS struck down the IEEPA reciprocal layer on February 20, 2026 in Learning Resources v. Trump, opening a refund pool of approximately $166 billion for affected importers.

Goods qualifying under USMCA rules of origin enter at 0% duty — making origin documentation the single most important variable.

Bottom line for batteries importers from Mexico: confirm your HTS classification, account for the Section 122 layer (and Section 232/301 if applicable), and — if you paid IEEPA duties in 2025 — check your refund eligibility before the Phase 1 windows close on a rolling basis through Q3 2026.