Importing food from Australia into the US in 2026 means navigating multiple tariff layers. The current total effective rate runs approximately 10% on most food imports under HTS chapters 01-24. The reciprocal rate on Australia 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 food from Australia 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 Australia food 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.
Australia is exempt from Section 232 steel and aluminum tariffs under a country-specific arrangement.
Bottom line for food importers from Australia: 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.
Calculate Your Food Duty from Australia
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total tariff rate on food from Australia in 2026?
The total effective US tariff on food from Australia is approximately 10%, composed of the 10% Section 122 reciprocal tariff plus the MFN base rate plus any product-specific surcharges.
Are food imports from Australia subject to IEEPA refunds?
Refunds are limited. The reciprocal rate did not change meaningfully for Australia. Importers who specifically paid the temporary IEEPA layer in 2025 may still file through CAPE, but the refund delta is small.
Does Section 232 apply to food from Australia?
Section 232 applies to specific product categories (steel, aluminum, autos, copper, semiconductors, lumber) regardless of country. For food specifically, Section 232 generally does not apply unless the goods fall under one of those covered categories.
