US Tariffs on Electronics

What This Covers

The electronics sector surcharge covers computers, smartphones, televisions, semiconductors, printed circuit boards, and consumer electronics classified under HTS chapters 84-85. Many of these products historically entered the US duty-free under the Information Technology Agreement (ITA), which eliminated tariffs on a wide range of IT products. Following the Supreme Court's February 20, 2026 ruling striking down IEEPA reciprocal tariffs, all countries now face a uniform 10% tariff under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, effective February 24, 2026 and expiring after 150 days (~July 24, 2026). Section 301 tariffs on Chinese-origin electronics (25-100%) remain in full force, as they were unaffected by the ruling.

Most Affected Countries

China remains by far the most affected country, supplying over $150 billion in electronics to the US annually and facing a 25% Section 301 surcharge on top of the 10% Section 122 tariff. Vietnam and Malaysia, which saw massive manufacturing growth as companies relocated supply chains from China, now benefit significantly from the shift to a uniform 10% rate — down from the 46% and 24% IEEPA rates they faced before the Supreme Court ruling. Taiwan and South Korea, critical sources for semiconductors and display panels, similarly benefit from the reduction to 10%, making their components more price-competitive relative to the pre-ruling landscape.

How Surcharges Stack

For electronics from China, the effective tariff stacks the 10% Section 122 tariff with the 25% Section 301 surcharge. A $1,000 laptop imported from China could face a combined rate of approximately 35% when both layers are applied, though some ITA-covered products may have a 0% base rate before surcharges. Vietnamese electronics now face only the 10% Section 122 rate — a dramatic reduction from the former 46% IEEPA rate — making Vietnam a substantially more attractive sourcing hub than it was just days ago. Products from USMCA partners Canada and Mexico may qualify for duty-free treatment if they meet the rules of origin, bypassing the Section 122 tariff entirely. The Section 122 tariff is temporary, expiring around July 24, 2026, which means the tariff landscape for electronics could shift again within months.

Sourcing Strategies

The uniform 10% Section 122 rate has leveled the playing field among non-China source countries, eliminating the wide disparities that previously made sourcing decisions heavily tariff-driven. Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, and India all now face the same 10% rate, so importers can optimize for cost, quality, and reliability rather than tariff arbitrage. China remains the most expensive sourcing option due to the 25% Section 301 surcharge stacking on top of Section 122. USMCA sourcing from Mexico and Canada still offers the best tariff treatment for qualifying products. Importers should plan for the possibility that the Section 122 tariff expires in July 2026 without replacement, which could mean a period of zero additional surcharges for non-China sources.