US-China Board of Trade Leaves Leather Jackets Off Its Tariff Relief Lists
The United States and China have extended their tariff truce and activated a joint trade body whose published product lists, released on September 27, 2026, set out which goods could receive reduced tariffs. For a Leather Jacket programme sourced from China, the practical point is direct: the lists cover household textiles and consumer goods, but no apparel and no leather goods.
The pause on the two sides' tariff increases had been due to expire on November 10, 2026, and it has been extended by two months, to January 10, 2027. That date is now the planning horizon for any 2027 China-origin programme, because the tariff treatment of goods that are not on the reduced-tariff lists continues on its present terms until the two governments agree otherwise.
What the Board of Trade Published
The U.S.-China Board of Trade was chartered earlier in 2026 and operationalized during the September 2026 summit in Washington. Its first task is the "30-for-30" framework: two comparably valued lists of goods, roughly 30 billion US dollars on each side, recommended for more favorable tariff treatment in a reciprocal way.
The White House fact sheet and the published terms of reference set the mechanism out. The values on the lists were fixed by reference to annual bilateral trade for calendar year 2024, and any tariff reduction is to be determined and implemented through each side's own domestic legal process, so the lists are recommendations rather than applied rates.
What Is on the List, and What Is Not
The U.S. import list runs to 77 tariff lines, and household textiles dominate it: blankets, bed linen, table linen and tablecloths, curtains, wall hangings and pillows all appear.
The list also covers plastic tableware, fireworks, small electrical appliances such as food grinders, shavers, flashlights, flatirons, microwave ovens, coffee makers and toasters, Christmas decorations, children's seating, sleeping bags, toys, billiard and sports equipment, fishing gear and vacuum flasks.
Apparel is absent. The list holds no garments of the kind classified in HTSUS chapters 61 and 62, and no leather goods. A leather jacket, a leather coat or a leather accessory therefore sits outside the reduced-tariff scope as the lists currently stand.
Why That Matters for a Leather Jacket Programme
Two consequences follow. First, the tariff treatment of China-origin leather jackets is unchanged by the framework, so a 2027 buy plan should be built on the rates that apply today. Second, the January 10, 2027 expiry is a live decision point: if the truce lapses, the tariff increases it pauses could return, and that would move landed cost.
It is also worth separating this framework from the duties already in force. The Section 301 forced-labor duties that began on July 24, 2026 apply to imports from 60 economies, and they are not altered by the Board of Trade lists; our earlier note sets out what those rules require at entry. For landed cost, the tariff-line classification of the finished jacket, rather than the framework, remains the deciding factor.
What a Buyer Should Do Now
The first two steps are practical. Confirm the tariff classification of each style with the factory, because the finished-garment line drives the duty. Then ask the customs broker to model landed cost at both the present rate and the rate that would apply if the pause lapses.
The third step is administrative: keep the September 27 lists on file with the tariff paperwork, so the "is my product covered" question is settled by the published list rather than by assumption.
Buyers who are also tracking refunds on earlier entries can use the process described in our note on tariff refunds that opened on October 6, which sits alongside this framework rather than inside it.
Danke, the exporting brand of Dalian Danke Fashion Co., Ltd, produces leather jacket programmes for B2B buyers and follows trade-policy changes as they affect landed cost. Buyers who need current style data or a classification sheet for an upcoming order can review the range of custom leather jackets at www.dankeleatherjacket.com or send the style brief on WhatsApp +86 13234076432.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are leather jackets on the U.S.-China reduced-tariff lists?
No. The U.S. import list published on September 27, 2026 contains 77 tariff lines covering household textiles, small appliances, toys and similar consumer goods. It includes no apparel and no leather goods, so a leather jacket is outside the scope as the lists stand.
When does the tariff truce expire?
The truce, which pauses certain tariff increases, was extended by two months and now runs to January 10, 2027. Any further extension is a matter for the two governments, so the date is a planning deadline rather than a settled long-term arrangement.
Do the lists change the duties that already apply?
No. The lists are recommendations for future reductions to be carried out through each side's domestic legal process. Duties already in force, including the Section 301 forced-labor duties that began on July 24, 2026, are unaffected.
