Section 301 Exclusions: HTS Codes, Deadline, Extension History

Section 301 tariffs still cover most affected imports in 2026, layered on top of ordinary duties at 25% for the major lists and 7.5% for another. But a narrow set of products escapes that layer: 178 Section 301 tariff exclusions that remain in force. If your product is one of them, the savings on every entry are substantial. If it is not, the exclusions are still worth understanding — because they come with a hard expiration date that should be driving sourcing decisions right now.

This article explains how the Section 301 exclusions work, how to claim one, which industries benefit, and why the November 2026 deadline matters. For the complete, product-by-product reference — the specific goods covered under each subheading — see our dedicated Section 301 tariff exclusions page, which tracks the active list and the full extension history.

The Current State of Play

The current extension flowed from the trade understanding announced at the start of November 2025. It was not a fresh, permanent carve-out; it was the latest in a series of short-window extensions that have kept a shrinking set of exclusions alive since 2022. That history matters, because it tells you how to plan.

Where the Exclusions Sit

To use an exclusion correctly, you have to understand what it does and does not remove. The Section 301 regime is built on four lists issued between 2018 and 2019, each with its own rate and Chapter 99 reporting code. An exclusion sits on top of that structure and drops only the Section 301 layer — nothing else.

What an exclusion removes — and what stays

Removed by the exclusion	Still applies
The Section 301 add-on duty (25% on Lists 1–3, 7.5% on List 4A)	The ordinary MFN / Column 1 General duty rate
	Any antidumping or countervailing duties
	Section 232 duties (steel, aluminum, and related)
	Any other applicable trade-remedy measure

This is the point importers most often get wrong: an exclusion is not a blanket duty-free pass. It removes one specific layer. If your product also carries an AD/CVD order or a Section 232 duty, those survive the exclusion untouched. The exclusion also attaches to the original four-list regime, not to the newer strategic-sector tariff increases — a product sitting on a strategic-sector code is not eligible for the umbrella exclusion.

How to Claim a Section 301 Exclusion on an Entry

Claiming an exclusion is a classification exercise, and precision matters. On the entry line, the broker reports the product’s underlying HTS classification together with the exclusion subheading — 9903.88.69 — as the secondary Chapter 99 code. When the exclusion is claimed, the original List 1–4A code (for example, 9903.88.03) drops off that line. The exclusion is available to any importer whose product genuinely meets the annex description; the current round is generally available rather than limited to specific named importers.

The catch is that the product must actually match the exclusion’s written description in the annex, not merely fall within a similar tariff heading. The descriptions are narrow and specific, and claiming an exclusion your product does not truly fit is a misclassification that CBP can unwind — with duties and potential penalties. When the fit is uncertain, this is exactly the situation a binding ruling is designed to resolve before you rely on the exclusion.

Which Industries Benefit Most

The clearest category is solar: 14 of the 178 exclusions cover solar manufacturing equipment, reflecting the policy tension between tariff pressure and the domestic push to build solar production capacity that still depends on imported equipment. The remaining 164 product-specific exclusions skew toward industrial inputs and components — goods where officials accepted that sourcing elsewhere remains limited and that importers need transition time. In the comment process behind the latest extension, the recurring theme from supporters was the same: the covered products remain available only in limited quantities from alternative sources, and supply chains need more time to diversify.

If you import industrial components, specialized inputs, or solar production equipment subject to Section 301, checking your products against the active annex is worth doing directly — the difference between paying and not paying the 301 layer is decided line by line. The full list of covered products is maintained on our Section 301 tariff exclusions reference page.

The Deadline Is the Real Story

That framing is the practical takeaway. An active exclusion is real money saved now, but building a business around one is building on a foundation with a published expiration date. The importers who fare best treat the exclusion as breathing room to diversify, model the cost of the snap-back, and decide well before November 2026 whether to shift suppliers, absorb the duty, or pursue other tariff strategies.

Because the exclusions interact with classification, valuation, and other trade-remedy layers — and because the annex descriptions are unforgiving — confirming that your products qualify, and planning for the deadline, is worth doing with someone who tracks these actions. A customs and international trade lawyer can verify eligibility, secure certainty through a binding ruling where the fit is close, and map the sourcing decisions that the November 2026 deadline forces.

Section 301 actions change frequently. The figures here reflect the status as of mid-2026; confirm the current annex and deadline before relying on an exclusion.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Section 301 tariff exclusions are currently active?

There are 178 active exclusions — 164 product-specific plus 14 covering solar manufacturing equipment — claimed under HTSUS subheadings 9903.88.69 and 9903.88.70. They are extended through November 10, 2026 unless extended again.

Does a Section 301 exclusion remove all duties?

No. An exclusion removes only the Section 301 add-on duty. The ordinary MFN rate, any antidumping or countervailing duties, and any Section 232 duties all still apply. It is one specific layer removed, not a duty-free pass.

Can I still apply for a new Section 301 exclusion?

Not currently. There is no open exclusion request process. You can claim an existing exclusion if your product genuinely matches its annex description, but there is no active mechanism to request a new one.

When do the Section 301 exclusions expire?

The current exclusions are extended through November 10, 2026. Unless extended, they lapse for entries on or after that date, and the underlying list duty — 25% on Lists 1–3, 7.5% on List 4A — snaps back automatically. Because there is no fallback request process, importers relying on an exclusion should plan their sourcing around that date.