What U.S. Importers of IT Hardware Need to Know About 2025 Tariffs

Tariff changes can quickly disrupt your budgets, delay timelines, and complicate compliance strategies. While tariff announcements often make headlines, it’s rarely clear which measures are actually in effect. For clear answers, it’s best to go straight to the agency that enforces the rules. In the U.S., the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) enforces tariff policy at the border. It provides accurate, updated information on its website. CBP also issues regular implementation updates and technical guidance through the Cargo Systems Messaging Service (CSMS) within the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE).

On March 4 and 7, 2025, CBP implemented five Executive Orders that raised tariffs on imports from China, Hong Kong, Canada, and Mexico. These changes are now in effect. Let’s break down what’s changed and where to go for the latest details.

5 New Tariffs Affecting Imports from China, Canada, Mexico, and Hong Kong (Effective March 2025)

Issued under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), these tariff updates apply across multiple industries. The first list below outlines changes most relevant to IT hardware and general goods imports:

Key Tariff Updates for IT Hardware:

• Additional 25% tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada that don’t meet U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) rules of origin.

• 20% additional tariffs (up from 10%) on goods from China and Hong Kong.

• No additional tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico that qualify under USMCA, effective March 7, 2025.

The second list highlights other product categories affected by the same orders:

Other Affected Categories (Outside IT Hardware):

• A lower, additional 10% tariff applies to Canadian energy products that fall outside USMCA preference.

• A lower, additional 10% tariff applies to potash from Canada and Mexico that falls outside USMCA preference.

For imports from Canada and Mexico, USMCA eligibility rules remain unchanged and are still defined under 19 CFR 182.

New Tariffs Require Two HTS Codes

The U.S. has implemented additional blanket tariffs on imports from China, in addition to the existing Section 301 duties. Instead of modifying existing HS codes, CBP created a parallel set of tariff lines under Chapter 99 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTSUS). 

Chapter 99 is a special section of the tariff schedule used to apply temporary or exceptional measures—such as additional duties, exclusions, or suspensions tied to specific trade actions like the Section 301 tariffs on Chinese goods. Rather than modifying the base tariff codes, Chapter 99 acts as an overlay, requiring importers to declare an extra code alongside the regular HTS classification. These new entries (e.g., 9903.88.xx) must be used alongside the standard 10-digit HS code for the product.

In practice, this means all imports from China now require dual classification: the standard HS code for the product, plus the applicable Chapter 99 code for the China-specific tariff. CBP issued a comprehensive mapping of affected codes, marking a significant procedural shift for importers handling Chinese-origin goods.

Why This Matters to IT Logistics & Procurement Teams

If your company imports IT hardware into the U.S. via supply chains that involve Canada, Mexico, or China, these new tariffs could directly impact your landed costs and delivery timelines. This is a good time to:

• Reassess whether your imports qualify for USMCA treatment

• Evaluate the impact of increased tariffs from China and Hong Kong

• Confirm product classification and origin documentation

• Stay proactive by monitoring tariff updates and procedural guidance from CBP

Navigating how tariff updates apply to specific shipments can be complex. Many companies work with customs brokers, compliance specialists, or global IT logistics partners for clarity especially when handling sensitive or high-value IT hardware.

Need Help Navigating International IT Shipments?

Leading multinational enterprises trust FGX to ship IT hardware across borders while staying compliant and cost-effective, even as tariffs evolve. We provide coverage to 174 countries with a 99.98% customs clearance and delivery success rate, even to countries with strict compliance requirements like Brazil, India, and China. Please reach out if you’re interested in learning more.