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Paper and Paperboard from Australia Tariff: 10% (2026)

Tariff Rate Breakdown

10%

Section 122 Base

10%

Effective Rate

US-Australia FTA — qualifying goods may enter duty-free

Importers sourcing paper and paperboard from Australia face specific tariff considerations, with approximately $42B in total bilateral trade.

Following the Supreme Court's landmark February 20, 2026 decision striking down IEEPA tariffs, imports of paper and paperboard from Australia are now subject to a 10% base tariff under the Section 301 forced-labor tariff, which replaced the flat 10% Section 122 rate (in effect February 24 – July 24, 2026).

This 10% base surcharge is the Section 301 forced-labor tariff that replaced the flat 10% Section 122 rate when Section 122's 150-day authority expired on July 24, 2026. The final action covers roughly 60 economies under a two-tier 10%/12.5% structure — broader than the earlier 46-country proposal.

Paper and Paperboard (HTS Chapter 48) carry an average MFN duty rate of 0.5% in addition to the base forced-labor tariff. No additional Section 232 or Section 301 surcharges apply to most products in this category from Australia.

Australia is party to the US-Australia FTA, which may provide preferential or duty-free access for qualifying paper and paperboard. Importers should verify rules of origin requirements to take advantage of preferential rates.

Key products in HTS Chapter 48 imported from Australia include Printing paper, Corrugated boxes, Tissue paper, Kraft paper, Newsprint, and Filter paper.

Common Products in Chapter 48

Printing paperCorrugated boxesTissue paperKraft paperNewsprintFilter paperCoated paperPaper bagsWallpaper

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the current tariff rate on paper and paperboard from Australia?

As of mid-2026, paper and paperboard from Australia face a base tariff of 10% under the Section 301 forced-labor tariff, which replaced the flat 10% Section 122 rate on July 24, 2026. The effective rate is about 10% on the most-affected products.

Will the tariff on paper and paperboard from Australia change?

The flat 10% Section 122 tariff expired July 24, 2026 and was replaced the same day by the Section 301 forced-labor tariff; Australia's current 10% base surcharge is that two-tier (10%/12.5%) rate, covering roughly 60 economies. In August 2026, 25 states sued to block the forced-labor tariff, but CBP continues collecting it while the case proceeds.

How did the Supreme Court ruling affect paper and paperboard imports from Australia?

The Supreme Court's February 20, 2026 ruling struck down IEEPA reciprocal tariffs as exceeding presidential authority. The president signed a replacement flat 10% tariff under Section 122 the same day, effective February 24; that rate expired July 24, 2026 and was replaced by the Section 301 forced-labor tariff (now 10% for Australia). Qualifying goods under US-Australia FTA may still enter duty-free.