US Tariff on Electronics from Japan

Japan is a major source of high-quality electronics for the US market, and Japanese electronics face one of the lowest tariff rates at just 10% total.

The rate structure is straightforward: 0% MFN base rate under the Information Technology Agreement (ITA) plus 10% Section 122 = 10% total. Japan is not subject to Section 301 tariffs, giving it a massive 25-percentage-point advantage over China (35%) for electronics.

Japan's electronics exports to the US are concentrated in high-value, technology-intensive categories: semiconductor manufacturing equipment (Tokyo Electron, Screen Holdings), camera systems (Canon, Nikon, Sony), gaming consoles (Nintendo, Sony PlayStation), automotive electronics (Denso, Aisin), audio equipment (Sony, Yamaha, Pioneer), and passive electronic components (Murata, TDK).

The SCOTUS ruling had minimal impact on Japanese electronics since the old IEEPA rate was also 10%. However, Japan benefits enormously from the competitive landscape shift — Vietnam dropped from 46% to 10%, and other Asian competitors saw similar reductions, but China remains at 35% due to Section 301.

For importers, Japan is particularly attractive for: precision electronics and optical equipment where quality justifies the premium, components where Japanese manufacturing tolerances are required, and products where IP protection and supply chain transparency are priorities.

Note that semiconductors from Japan may face additional Section 232 tariffs (25%), bringing the total for those products to 35%. This applies specifically to semiconductor chips and wafers, not semiconductor manufacturing equipment.

The 10% Section 122 rate expires approximately July 24, 2026. If it lapses without replacement, Japanese electronics could enter at 0% (the ITA rate). This makes Japan potentially the most attractive electronics source in the second half of 2026.