Update on New U.S. Tariffs and Impact on Book Imports

4 April 2025•Article

This update addresses the impact of new US tariffs on imported informational materials. It clarifies that certain categories, including publications, are exempt from these additional tariffs due to a recent executive order.

Following on from our recent general update on the new US tariffs, we feel it's important to update our customers in the print and publishing industry on what we understand to be the impact on books being imported under HTS US heading 9903.01.31.

This HTS code was created to designate certain products that are exempt from additional tariffs imposed under authorities like the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) section 50 U.S.C. § 1702(b) or Section 301 of the Trade Act. Therefore, we understand that goods classified under this HTS code will continue to be exempt from the additional tariffs announced on 2nd April 2025.

For more information on this, we have summarised HTS code and available references as below:

9903.01.31: “Articles that are informational materials, including but not limited to, publications, films, posters, phonograph records, photographs, microfilms, microfiche, tapes, compact disks, CD ROMs, artworks, and news wire feeds.”

The White House’s executive order, specifically Annex III, lists excluded product categories under HTSUS heading 9903.01.31. This includes printed materials such as books and other publications. Link to Annex III can be found here.

Chapter 49 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) describes publications as “Printed books, newspapers, pictures and other products of the printing industry; manuscripts, typescripts and plans”.

Whilst we await US CBP to update their information to reflect the White House’s recent executive order, we will continue to keep you informed of any further changes.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with your local representative.

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