U.S. Trade Resources
INDA helps you navigate government issues that affect your business. If you have any questions relating to trade remedies or tariffs, below are some helpful resources. For INDA Members needing more assistance, contact Wes Fisher, INDA Director of Government Affairs, wfisher@inda.org.
Trump administration tariff timeline:
View the most up to date information at the Trade Compliance Resource Hub’s Trump 2.0 tariff tracker
| Date/Event | Policy Change & Nonwovens Impact |
| Feb 4, 2025 | 10% IEEPA ‘fentanyl’ tariff added to all Chinese goods including 5603 codes — effective stacking on top of 25% Section 301 List 3 rate |
| Apr 5, 2025 | Universal 10% global baseline tariff (IEEPA reciprocal) applied to all countries; EU nonwoven imports additionally face 20% reciprocal levy; 90-day pause for most countries after April 9 |
| May–Aug 2025 | US-China escalation peaks at 145% combined duty on Chinese goods including 5603 subheadings; US textile/apparel imports from China fall 52% in May vs. prior year; nonwovens from China face similar acute pressure |
| May 2025 Geneva Deal | US and China agree to 90-day tariff reduction: combined China rate reduced from 145% to ~30% above MFN for most goods. For 5603 List 3 products: MFN rate (~0%) + 25% Section 301 + ~10% remaining surcharge = approx. 35% effective rate |
| Jan 1, 2026 | Section 301 List 4B rate increased from 7.5% to 15% (consumer goods). Not broadly applicable to 5603 codes (primarily List 3), but affects some composite nonwoven products in consumer categories |
| Feb 20, 2026 | US Supreme Court strikes down IEEPA-based tariffs. Trump announces replacement 10% global surcharge under Section 122 (150-day initial term). Net effect: combined China 5603 rate adjusts to approximately MFN + 25% Section 301 + 10% Section 122 surcharge = ~35-38% for most subheadings |
| Feb 24, 2026 | Section 122 10% global tariff takes effect. Applies universally to 5603 imports from all countries, increasing effective landed cost across all supply origins by approximately 10 percentage points |
| Mar–Apr 2026 | US-China trade tensions resume with new Section 301 investigations; China launches retaliatory investigations; May 2026 Trump-Xi meeting anticipated. Supply chains in ‘wait and see’ mode, moderating import velocity |
As of May 1, 2026, there is a 10% baseline on all products from all countries, with two Section 301 investigations taking place aimed at replacing the reciprocal tariff structure that the Supreme Court struck down in February. While President Trump announced plans to raise this 10% to 15%, that has not taken place as of May 1, 2026.
INDA International Trade Handbook
The INDA International Trade Handbook is available in the INDA store and free to download for INDA members.
The handbook was written in partnership with the law firm Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg P.A. and represents several months of work compiling U.S. trade and customs policy and compliance information impacting the nonwovens sector. The handbook is a comprehensive, 240-page guide to help you and your business understand and comply with U.S. international trade law.
Information included in the handbook features active tariffs on goods coming into the U.S. as of April 9, 2025, and tariff rates and classification codes for nonwoven roll goods and finished goods. You can preview the table of contents here. Get your copy here.
Resources Regarding Alleged Dumping and other Anti-Competitive Trade Practices
EC Petition Counseling (trade.gov)
Any sort of discussion for trade remedy counseling should be referred to Enforcement and Compliance (E&C) within the International Trade Administration. E&C has a very detailed website with plenty of information and FAQs on antidumping and the actions that can be taken: U.S. antidumping and countervailing duties
E&C also has a very vibrant and active pre-petition counseling group. You can reach them at EC Petition Counseling (trade.gov). Through E&C, a company can submit an email with the issue/complaint and then E&C will reach out to discuss with you.
Key Resources to look up Tariff (Duty) Rates
- Agricultural Tariff Tracker
- Canada
- Customs Info Database (Descartes) – This tariff search tool allows you to search duty rates MFN (standard) and Free Trade Agreement (preferential) as well as local taxes for over 170 countries. This database is free but requires registration. You will need your 6-digit HS code to conduct the search. This database also includes FTA duties. Free: requires registration.
- Harmonized Tariff Schedule Search
- European Union Tariffs (TARIC) (use tariff rates listed for exports to 27 EU member countries.
- FTA Tariff Tool (Incorporates all products, including agricultural and non-agricultural goods).
- South Africa Customs Union (SACU)
- WTO Tariff Database: tariffdata.wto.org/ (use the “Applied Rates”). List of duty rates of World Trade Organization member countries). Requires registration.
Section 301 Tariffs on China
There are existing Section 301 tariffs on China that have been active since 2018, with an extra 25% tariff on nonwoven roll goods and a 7.5% tariff on finished wipes and diaper products. USTR’s webpage – Section 301-China Technology Transfer / Tariff Actions and Exclusion Process at https://ustr.gov/issue-areas/enforcement/section-301-investigations/tariff-actions is the best official source for Section 301 info.
There are several exclusions to these tariffs that impact nonwovens, these exclusions were most recently extended until November 10, 2026:
| HTS Code | Description |
| 5504.10.0000 | Artificial Staple Fibers, Not Carded, Combed Or Otherwise Processed For Spinning: Of Viscose Rayon |
| 5603.92.0090 prior to July 1, 2022; 5603.92.0070 or 5603.92.0095 effective July 1, 2022 | Nonwovens, Whether Or Not Impregnated, Coated, Covered Or Laminated; Not Of Manmade Filaments; Weighing More Than 25 G/m2 But Less Than 70 G/m2 AND Nonwoven articles, ready for use and packaged for industrial, institutional or retail sale, whether or not separated, perforated or impregnated, not elsewhere specified or included (223) AND Other |
| 5603.93.0090 | Other Non-woven Fabrics, Not Man-made, Other Than Floor Covering Underlays & Laminated Fabrics, Not Impregnated/covered, Weighing Gt 70 And Lt=150 G/m2 |
| 6210.10.5090 | Garments, Made-up Of Fabrics Of Felts And Nonwovens |
See:
- COVID Exclusions
- Reinstatement of Certain Exclusions Previously extended
- Four-Year Review
- Search Tariff Lists
There is also the USITC’s Press Release Page. The USITC will obviously release all sorts of announcements, but you can do a quick ctrl+f and search for 301 to see if anything new has been made public.
For assistance or questions with the Four-Year Review or Exclusions Process, please contact the USTR Section 301 Hotline at (202) 395-5725.
If you have suggestions for additional resources, please contact Wes Fisher, Director of Government Affairs, wfisher@inda.org.
Reporting Trade Violations — CBP E-Allegations Portal
To bolster enforcement efforts and protect fair trade, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) maintains an E-Allegations portal where companies, industry stakeholders, and individuals can report suspected trade violations. These may include unfair trade practices, tariff circumvention (including transshipping), misclassification of goods, or other import/export irregularities.
Submissions can be made anonymously, and the portal contains FAQs, statistics, and details on what constitutes a violation.
Submit suspected trade violations here: CBP E-Allegations Portal
Sources Regarding IEEPA Tariff Refunds
- CBP Official IEEPA Duty Refunds page — cbp.gov/trade/programs-administration/trade-remedies/ieepa-duty-refunds (updated April 10, 2026)
- CBP CSMS #68340863 — CAPE Phase 1 Deployment Notice —
content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDHSCBP/bulletins/412cc7f
(April 13, 2026) - Norton Rose Fulbright — CBP issues tariff refund instructions — nortonrosefulbright.com (April 15, 2026)
- Covington & Burling — CBP Announces April 20 Launch of CAPE — cov.com (April 15, 2026)
- Forvis Mazars — IEEPA Tariff Refund Update: CAPE System and Processing Guidance — forvismazars.us (April 15, 2026)
- Customs & International Trade Law Blog — IEEPA Tariff Refund Updates — customsandinternationaltradelaw.com(April 15, 2026)
- FreightFigures — CBP CAPE Tool Goes Live April 20, 2026 — freightfigures.com (April 10, 2026)
- FreightFigures — How to Claim Your IEEPA Tariff Refund: The Complete 2026 Guide — freightfigures.com
- EisnerAmper — IEEPA Tariff Refunds: What Importers Need to Know — eisneramper.com
- Baker Tilly — IEEPA FAQ: Tariff refund rules, eligibility and filing steps — bakertilly.com
- Cherry Bekaert — IEEPA Tariff Refund Update: Phase I CAPE Set for April 20, 2026 — cbh.com
- Flexport — The Supreme Court’s IEEPA Tariff Ruling: Next Steps — flexport.com
- Thompson Hine SmarTrade — CBP Confirms April 20 Launch of Phase 1 — thompsonhinesmartrade.com
- Liberty Justice Center — CAPE Refund Process tracker — libertyjusticecenter.org
- UPS Supply Chain — US IEEPA Customs Tariff Ruling: What Importers Can Do — ups.com
Get Involved with INDA’s Trade Efforts
- INDA Trade Working Group: Join industry peers in shaping INDA’s trade policy engagement. Contact Wes Fisher (wfisher@inda.org) with your company’s supply chain role (e.g., roll goods manufacturer, importer, exporter) to participate.
- Government Affairs Committee: Help guide INDA’s advocacy priorities on key legislation and regulatory issues. Contact Kevin Conroy (kconroy@inda.org) for details.