The short answer: two headings, three stacked duties, one number that moves
As of October 2026, a jewelry entry from China is taxed by stacking the MFN rate on the heading with the Section 301 duties currently in force. For gold-plated brass under HTS 7117 that lands around 28% to 31%. For 925 silver under 7113.11.20 it runs about 33.5%. Both figures sit before MPF, HMF, freight, and brokerage, and both are confirmed by a licensed broker at the time of entry.
The figures below are general guidance as of October 2026, not customs, tax, or legal advice.
The 2026 timeline, in order
Tariff history matters because most articles still describe rules that were struck down or replaced mid-2026.
| Date | What changed |
|---|---|
| May 2025 | Duty-free de minimis treatment removed for Chinese-origin shipments |
| July 2025 | One Big Beautiful Bill Act (Public Law 119-21) sets a statutory end to the de minimis exemption for July 1, 2027 |
| August 29, 2025 | De minimis suspension extended worldwide under Executive Order 14324 |
| February 20, 2026 | Supreme Court holds in Learning Resources v. Trump that IEEPA does not authorize tariffs; the IEEPA-based duties fall |
| February 24, 2026 | CBP stops collecting IEEPA tariffs. A temporary flat 10% tariff under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 takes over as a bridge |
| June 24, 2026 | CBP interim final rules codify the de minimis suspension at 19 CFR 10.151 for non-postal shipments, with mail following on July 24, 2026 |
| July 24, 2026 | Section 301 forced-labor tariffs of 10% to 12.5% take effect on 60 economies. China sits in the 12.5% tier (HTSUS 9903.05.31). The Section 122 bridge reaches its statutory limit the same day |
| July 1, 2027 | Statutory repeal of the de minimis exemption takes effect |
One open item: several states challenged the forced-labor tariff in court in August 2026, and CBP has continued collecting while the case proceeds. Treat the 12.5% as live until a broker says otherwise.
HTS 7117 and 7113: the heading follows the metal, not the marketing
| Heading | Covers | Typical Qiuqiu Atelier production |
|---|---|---|
| 7117 | Imitation jewelry: base metal, plated or not | Gold-plated brass rings, earrings, chains, charms |
| 7113 | Jewelry of precious metal | 925 sterling silver rings, pendants, chains |
A gold-plated brass earring is 7117 even though the word "gold" is on the invoice. A 925 silver pendant with a gold color layer is 7113. The distinction is not cosmetic, because the MFN rate and the Section 301 treatment attach to the heading and, in practice, to the ten-digit line under it.
What the 7117 stack adds up to
| Component | Basis | Rate as of October 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| MFN, Column 1 General | 7117.19.90 | 11% |
| Section 301 China, List 4A (9903.88.15) | 7117.19.90 | 7.5% |
| Section 301 forced labor (9903.05.31) | China origin | 12.5% |
| Total before fees | 31% |
The MFN rate is not one number inside heading 7117: ten-digit lines in the heading run from about 8% to 11%, which is why the practical range for gold-plated brass from China is quoted as roughly 28% to 31% rather than a single figure. Verify the exact line for your product.
What the 7113 stack adds up to
Silver jewelry follows the same stacking pattern on a different MFN base.
| Component | Basis | Rate as of October 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| MFN, Column 1 General | 7113.11.20 (silver, not over $18 per dozen) | 13.5% |
| Section 301 China, List 4A (9903.88.15) | 7113.11.20 | 7.5% |
| Section 301 forced labor (9903.05.31) | China origin | 12.5% |
| Total before fees | 33.5% |
MFN inside 7113.11 moves with the line and the declared value per dozen, from roughly 5% up to 13.5%, so the combined figure moves with it. A broker classifying your actual SKU is the only way to a defensible number.
Why you cannot take a rate from an article
Three reasons, and all three apply to this page too.
- The measures change faster than pages get updated. The IEEPA tariffs were collecting one month and gone the next, and a replacement duty arrived in July 2026. Any rate written before that date is describing a different regime.
- The rate attaches to the ten-digit line, and the line follows the material. Two products in the same six-digit heading can carry different MFN rates, and an exclusion that covers one line may not cover the next. Exclusion windows have been extended and allowed to lapse on their own schedule.
- Origin, value, and Incoterm change the answer. Origin is where the goods are made, not where they ship from. De minimis relief is gone (below), so even small shipments now enter the duty calculation.
Getting a quoted rate instead of a guessed rate
A broker can price an entry in a day when the facts are complete. Send this set:
- Material and finish per SKU, stated plainly. Gold-plated brass, 925 sterling silver, stone type.
- Country of origin, and whether any component comes from elsewhere.
- Entered value and the Incoterm on the purchase order.
- Mode of transport, because the harbor maintenance fee applies to ocean freight only.
- Whether the product is children's jewelry, which pulls in separate federal and state requirements.
- Any prior CBP ruling or classification you have used for the same product.
Ask for the estimate in writing, split by duty line and fee, and ask whether a binding ruling is worth requesting if the classification is arguable. Rulings are public and searchable, and a ruling number settles the question with your broker, your bank, and your accountant.
A factory can support this by stating base material and finish on every quotation, which Qiuqiu Atelier does, so the invoice description supports the code instead of contradicting it. The description is the part buyers control: "gold earrings" over a carton of plated brass studs is the mismatch that holds an entry.
De minimis: what changed for samples
The $800 duty-free threshold that once made sample shipments simple is no longer available. It was removed for Chinese-origin goods in May 2025, suspended worldwide on August 29, 2025, and codified at 19 CFR 10.151 in June 2026, with postal shipments following in July 2026. Congress has set the permanent repeal for July 1, 2027.
For a brand, three practical effects follow. A 60-piece sample run is now an entry like any other, so budget duty and fees on samples as well as on production. Do not split one order across parcels to stay under a threshold, which is an exposure rather than a saving. And treat every shipment as an entry that needs a value, a description, and a classification.
If your next order is China-origin and US-bound, send the SKU list and target quantity through the Qiuqiu Atelier quote form. We will state base material, finish, and origin per SKU so your broker classifies from facts rather than from a product name.
FAQ
What is the tariff on jewelry from China in 2026?
As of October 2026, gold-plated brass under HTS 7117 lands around 28% to 31% when the MFN rate, Section 301 List 4A, and the 12.5% forced-labor duty are stacked, and 925 silver under 7113.11.20 runs about 33.5%. Both are before MPF, HMF, and brokerage, and both depend on the ten-digit line. Confirm with a licensed customs broker.
Is the $800 de minimis exemption still available for jewelry imports?
No. Duty-free de minimis treatment was removed for Chinese-origin goods in May 2025, suspended worldwide on August 29, 2025, and codified by CBP in June 2026 at 19 CFR 10.151. Congress set the statutory repeal for July 1, 2027. Small shipments now enter the duty calculation, so budget duty and fees on samples.
Do I pay duty on samples from a Chinese factory?
Duty follows the entered value, not the purpose of the shipment, and the de minimis route is closed. A sample parcel is still an entry with a value, a description, and a classification, and the courier passes the duty and its advance fee to the recipient. Ask the factory to declare the sample accurately rather than marking it as a gift.
How do I get an accurate duty number before placing an order?
Give a licensed customs broker four facts: the ten-digit classification, the country of origin, the entered value, and the Incoterm, plus the mode of transport and whether the item is children's jewelry. Ask for a written estimate split by duty and fee. If the classification is arguable, a binding ruling from CBP settles it before the goods ship.