US Tariff on Chemicals from Switzerland

Importing chemicals from Switzerland into the US in 2026 means navigating multiple tariff layers. The current total effective rate runs approximately 10% on most chemicals imports under HTS chapters 28-29, 32-38. The pre-SCOTUS IEEPA reciprocal rate on Switzerland was 31% — meaning importers who paid duties between April 2025 and February 2026 are owed an IEEPA refund of roughly 21% of declared value, plus ~5% statutory interest.

The current rate stack on chemicals from Switzerland 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 Switzerland chemicals imports to 31% 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.

If you imported chemicals from Switzerland between April 2025 and February 2026, the IEEPA refund window is still open through Phase 1 of CBP's CAPE portal — for entries that are unliquidated or within 80 days of liquidation. Phase 2 will cover older entries, reconciliation, and drawback claims when it launches later in 2026.

Bottom line for chemicals importers from Switzerland: 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.