Tariffs changed the math on imported goods. A freight rate that looks good on a quote can hide a duty bill that erases the margin on the whole shipment. Here is how the major U.S. trade actions affect forwarding costs, and what to do about them.

The tariff landscape

Four overlapping trade actions drive most duty exposure today:

  • Section 301 places additional duties of 7.5 to 25 percent on Chinese-origin goods across thousands of HTS classifications, covering roughly $370 billion in annual imports.
  • Section 232 places duties on steel (25 percent) and aluminum (10 percent) from most countries, with limited exemptions and quotas.
  • Anti-dumping duties (ADD) target goods sold below fair market value.
  • Countervailing duties (CVD) offset foreign government subsidies.

How tariffs affect freight forwarding costs

Landed cost comes first. A 25 percent Section 301 duty on a $100,000 shipment adds $25,000 before the goods touch a truck. That number has to feed your pricing, margin, and sourcing decisions before the purchase order is cut.

Supply chains restructure around duties. Importers diversify away from China toward Vietnam, India, Mexico, and Thailand. Each new origin brings different carrier networks, transit times, and documentation requirements that the forwarding program must absorb.

Customs complexity rises. Misclassification risks underpayment penalties, CBP audits, and seizure. The cost of getting classification wrong now rivals the freight itself.

Strategies that reduce the exposure

  • HTS classification review. Many products legitimately fit more than one heading, and the rates differ.
  • First sale valuation. Where an intermediary sits in the chain, the manufacturer-to-middleman price can serve as the duty basis.
  • Foreign trade zones. FTZs defer, reduce, or eliminate duty depending on how goods enter U.S. commerce.
  • Sourcing diversification. Moving production out of high-tariff origins changes the duty line permanently.
  • Duty drawback. Duties paid on goods that are later exported can be recovered.

The role of your freight forwarder

A forwarder who only books vessels leaves this money on the table. The right partner runs proactive tariff analysis and classification review before cargo moves. Sams 3PL Solutions integrates freight forwarding with customs strategy through our licensed customs broker partners, so the duty conversation happens at booking, not at the port.

Contact our team to discuss how tariff mitigation strategies can reduce your import costs.