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Tobacco from Nicaragua Tariff: 10% (2026)

Tariff Rate Breakdown

10%

Section 122 Base

10%

Effective Rate

CAFTA-DR — qualifying goods may enter duty-free

Importers sourcing tobacco from Nicaragua face specific tariff considerations, with approximately $4.5B in total bilateral trade.

The current tariff framework for tobacco from Nicaragua reflects the post-SCOTUS landscape: a 10% base tariff under the Section 301 forced-labor tariff that replaced the flat 10% Section 122 rate on July 24, 2026, which had itself replaced the previously higher IEEPA rates after the Court's February 2026 ruling.

The flat 10% Section 122 tariff was subject to a 150-day statutory time limit and expired on July 24, 2026. It was replaced the same day by USTR's Section 301 forced-labor tariff — a two-tier 10%/12.5% duty on roughly 60 economies (about 99.4% of US imports by value), broader than the earlier 46-country proposal. Nicaragua's current 10% base surcharge is that forced-labor rate; in August 2026, 25 states sued at the Court of International Trade to block it, but CBP continues collecting it while the case proceeds.

Tobacco (HTS Chapter 24) carry an average MFN duty rate of 19.8% in addition to the base forced-labor tariff. No additional Section 232 or Section 301 surcharges apply to most products in this category from Nicaragua.

Nicaragua is party to the CAFTA-DR, which may provide preferential or duty-free access for qualifying tobacco. Importers should verify rules of origin requirements to take advantage of preferential rates.

Key products in HTS Chapter 24 imported from Nicaragua include Cigarettes, Cigars, Pipe tobacco, Chewing tobacco, Unmanufactured tobacco leaf, and Snuff.

Common Products in Chapter 24

CigarettesCigarsPipe tobaccoChewing tobaccoUnmanufactured tobacco leafSnuffTobacco extracts

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the current tariff rate on tobacco from Nicaragua?

As of mid-2026, tobacco from Nicaragua 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 tobacco from Nicaragua change?

The flat 10% Section 122 tariff expired July 24, 2026 and was replaced the same day by the Section 301 forced-labor tariff; Nicaragua'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 tobacco imports from Nicaragua?

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 Nicaragua). Qualifying goods under CAFTA-DR may still enter duty-free.