U.S. International Trade Commission publishes tariff schedule Revision 23, citing China shipbuilding action

Overview

Updated 12 hours ago

On November 10, 2026, the U.S. International Trade Commission published Revision 23 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule. The edition adds a Section 301 modification on China's maritime and shipbuilding sectors and extends some product exclusions.

The HTS is the document customs officers and importers use to classify a shipment and calculate its duty. Duties follow the revision in force on the date of entry, so a new edition can change the cost of goods already in transit.

Why it matters

A shipment's duty rate depends on the HTS revision in force on its entry date, so one revision can change landed costs overnight.

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Key Indicators

HTS revisions published in 2026

Revision 23 is the 23rd edition of the 2026 Harmonized Tariff Schedule.

Modification sources cited

The revision lists a Section 301 maritime action and product exclusion extensions.

Line-by-line changes summarized by USITC

The release list does not say which tariff lines changed.

Voices

Curated perspectives — historical figures and your fellow readers.

Organizations Involved

US International Trade Commission

Federal Agency

Publishes and maintains the Harmonized Tariff Schedule

The independent federal agency that publishes the Harmonized Tariff Schedule.

Office of the United States Trade Representative

Federal agency

Issued the Section 301 modification cited in Revision 23

The agency that runs Section 301 investigations and sets the resulting tariffs.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Federal Agency

Interprets and enforces the HTS at the border

The agency that classifies imports and collects duties.

Timeline

January 1989 November 2026

4 events Latest: Yesterday

Tap a bar to jump to that date

November 2026
Revision 23 takes effect
Latest Rule change

Revision 23 took effect with a China shipbuilding-related Section 301 change.
Yesterday
October 2026
Revision 22 becomes the active HTS edition
Rule change

Revision 22 became the active HTS edition.
October 30th, 2026
May 2019
Section 301 China tariff lists in force
Tariff

Section 301 lists on Chinese goods were in force.
May 10th, 2019
January 1989
HTS replaces the old U.S. tariff schedules
Rule change

The HTS took effect, replacing the Tariff Schedules of the United States.
January 1st, 1989

Scenarios

Revision 23 takes effect without a court injunction

Likely Resolves by Jan 15, 2027

Discussed by: Federal Register notices and U.S. Court of International Trade dockets

Importers begin filing entries under the new edition. If no trade group asks the Court of International Trade to suspend the Section 301 maritime changes, the revision stays in force.

USTR adds new product exclusions in a later HTS revision

Possible Resolves by Q1 2027

Discussed by: Federal Register notices and USITC HTS archive

USTR has extended exclusions before. A later revision could add new exclusions for goods hit by the maritime action, lowering duties for some importers.

CBP issues binding classification guidance for shipbuilding-sector goods

Possible Resolves by Feb 28, 2027

Discussed by: CBP CROSS rulings database and CSMS messages

Importers of ships, port equipment, and logistics gear need to know which new lines apply. A binding ruling or CSMS message would settle the question for specific products.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

1988

Harmonized System takes effect (1988)

The World Customs Organization's Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System created a shared six-digit vocabulary for traded goods. The United States adopted it through the HTS, which took effect on January 1, 1989.

Then

Importers and customs officials gained a common classification language.

Now

The HTS remains the base document for U.S. duty rates and trade statistics.

Why this matters now

Revision 23 is the latest update to that same schedule.

2018–2019

Section 301 China tariffs (2018–2019)

The U.S. Trade Representative imposed additional duties on a wide range of Chinese products under Section 301. The HTS added Chapter 99 notes to carry the new rates.

Then

Importers paid higher duties on many Chinese goods.

Now

Section 301 became a standing part of the tariff schedule, revised through exclusions and extensions.

Why this matters now

Revision 23 follows the same pattern, adding a maritime and shipbuilding action to the Chapter 99 structure.