WHAT’S THE LATEST
On November 4, 2025, the White House announced a significant bilateral agreement between the United States and the People’s Republic of China aimed at curbing the flow of synthetic opioids, particularly fentanyl, into the U.S. This agreement includes both enforcement actions and tariff modifications that will impact importers and exporters engaged in U.S.–China trade.
WHAT WE KNOW - KEY DEVELOPMENTS
China’s Commitments
- China will halt shipments of designated precursor chemicals used in fentanyl production to North America.
- China will strictly control exports of other chemicals globally to prevent diversion into illicit drug manufacturing.
- China will suspend retaliatory tariffs imposed since March 2025, including those on U.S. agricultural products and non-tariff countermeasures.
U.S. Commitments
- The U.S. will reduce the fentanyl-related tariff on Chinese imports from 20% to 10%, effective for goods entered on or after November 10, 2025.
- The reciprocal tariff rate of 10% on Chinese goods will be retained until November 10, 2026, with potential extension.
- The U.S. will suspend implementation of certain Section 301 actions and end-user controls for one year.
SEKO's GUIDANCE
- Review HTS classifications and entry dates to ensure proper tariff treatment under the new agreement.
- Monitor updates from SEKO’s trade compliance team for further guidance.
Below is a list of official documents for full details:
If you have questions, please reach out to your SEKO representative, or email us at hello@sekologistics.com.
