US tariff changes in 2026 — practical impact on CNC part sourcing.

• Section 301 extensions: the 25% tariff on most Chinese-origin mechanical parts remains in effect. Exclusions granted in 2023-2024 for specific components have mostly expired or been narrowed.
• Aluminum AD/CVD expansion: new antidumping duties apply to aluminum extrusions regardless of country of immediate export when origin is Chinese. The "country of origin" test is stricter — parts machined from Chinese-origin billet but shipped through a third country may still be subject.
• Stainless steel orders: similar expansion of antidumping orders on stainless steel from multiple countries. CNC parts made from stainless bar have new scrutiny on source documentation.
• De minimis changes: the $800 de minimis threshold for imports remains but enforcement has tightened dramatically. Consolidated shipments split to appear under $800 each are actively flagged. Consumer buyers using services that bundle orders see increasingly frequent holds.
• FDA / EPA paperwork: no new requirements on standard CNC parts, but products that could be classified as medical devices, electrical components, or food-contact items see stricter enforcement of existing rules.

A correctly classified shipment pays the right duty and clears customs quickly. An incorrect classification — even if accidental — can cause holds, retroactive duty assessments, and penalties.

For CNC parts, common HS codes:

• 7616.99.5190: other articles of aluminum, not elsewhere specified — many machined aluminum parts
• 7326.90.8688: other articles of iron or steel — machined steel parts
• 8466.93: parts and accessories for machine tools — if the part is specifically a machine tool component
• 9032.90: parts of automatic regulating/controlling instruments — if your part is part of a control instrument

What we've learned: the 8466 and 9032 codes sometimes result in lower effective duties because they can indicate different exclusion categories. If your part fits a more specific functional description, it's worth researching rather than defaulting to the generic "other articles" codes.

For each shipment from us, we provide 10-digit HS codes on the commercial invoice. Many shops don't — if you're working with a supplier who just writes "CNC machined parts" on the invoice, you're doing unnecessary classification work downstream.

Customs has gotten stricter about certificate of origin (COO). For routine CNC shipments, we now include:

1. Generic COO on factory letterhead stating country of manufacture
2. Mill test reports (MTRs) showing material origin and chemistry
3. Process routing documentation showing the operations performed in our facility

This prevents the common problem of customs questioning whether the part is truly of Chinese origin (some shipments try to declare non-Chinese origin to avoid Section 301). Clear documentation on our side means quick clearance on yours.

For customers doing duty drawback (recovering duties when parts are re-exported after processing), full documentation is essential. Save all paperwork.

The tariff environment makes the DDP vs FOB decision more consequential:

DDP (Delivered Duty Paid): we handle everything including ocean freight, customs, and duty payment. Current DDP pricing to US East or West Coast includes all applicable tariffs. You receive a single invoice, no surprises.

FOB (Free on Board): you or your broker handles ocean freight, customs, and duty. Upfront invoice is lower, but you pay duties separately — and a DDP quote includes our volume discount on shipping and customs handling.

For most buyers, DDP is cleaner. The rare case where FOB wins: you have a strong relationship with a customs broker, you're consolidating shipments from multiple suppliers, or you have a commercial reason to handle duty directly (duty drawback programs, deferred entry).

One caution: some suppliers offer "DDP at below market" pricing by under-declaring invoice values. Illegal. Resolve any such offer by getting a second quote — the cheap DDP often turns into customs holds and fines months later.

1. Plan on ~28-30% effective duty rate on Chinese-origin CNC parts (Section 301 + standard HTSUS duty). This has been stable for 2+ years.
2. Get HS codes on every commercial invoice. Ask your supplier; if they can't provide, that's a red flag.
3. DDP is the default for most buyers; FOB for those with specific customs capabilities.
4. Factor duty into your per-part cost planning, not as a surprise at the port.
5. If your product category got a Section 301 exclusion, check whether it's still valid. Most 2023-2024 exclusions have expired.

The 2026 environment isn't dramatically different from 2024 in our experience, but the enforcement has become more rigorous. Clean paperwork and accurate classification are more important than ever.

Questions about this post?

Email [email protected] — we reply within 1 business day. Our engineering team writes these posts and handles customer questions directly.