30-for-30: What the U.S. and China Agreed On, and What Importers Should Do Before Anything Takes Effect
On September 27, 2026, the White House and USTR released reciprocal lists of products recommended for reduced tariff treatment, about $30 billion of trade in each direction. The release came days after Xi Jinping's three-day state visit to Washington. The framework, called 30-for-30, is the first major result of the U.S.-China Board of Trade, a government-to-government body set up during Trump's May visit to Beijing.
This post covers what is on each list, what the announcement does and does not do, and what importers and exporters should be doing now.
What is on the lists
The U.S. list covers 77 tariff lines of Chinese goods. They include toys, tableware, kitchen accessories, curtains, electric shavers, electrical goods, and holiday decorations such as Christmas-tree lamps and ornaments. USTR Jamieson Greer described them as household goods and other products the United States generally does not import from other countries.
China's list is much longer, at 1,619 tariff lines of U.S. goods. It includes agricultural commodities, fish and seafood, logs and wood products, cosmetics, and medical devices. Greer said the arrangement improves market access for about 30% of U.S. exports to China. Sectors of strategic importance to both sides, such as chips, electric vehicles, and batteries, are not covered.
What this is, and what it is not
The White House language is careful. The two countries "will consider" the lists with a view toward providing reduced tariff treatment in a reciprocal manner, consistent with their respective domestic laws and processes. That makes these recommendations. No duty rate has changed. China has yet to issue implementation details, and nothing published so far gives a start date or says whether reduced rates would apply to goods already in transit or entered.
Some entries on the U.S. list cover only specified products within a broader tariff category. The descriptions are informational, and the HTS classification governs scope. Both governments said the lists may be adjusted, though amendments are likely to come no more than once a year. Board of Trade deputies are set to meet at least quarterly.
The wider picture
The two countries also agreed last week to extend a broader trade truce through January. According to CNN as reported by Quartz, the truce holds tariffs at 30% on imports from China and 10% on American goods entering China. The White House also said China committed to import at least 10 million metric tons of U.S. coal in both 2027 and 2028, and that the Board of Trade launched a working group on agricultural market access barriers.
What to do now
If you import Chinese-origin goods, run your product list against the 77 lines and note which ones match by classification and description. Do that now so you know your position when an implementing action is published. If you export to China, do the same against the 1,619 lines, and watch for China's implementation details, since those will determine what applies.
Do not hold or delay cargo waiting for a reduction. With no start date and no statement on goods in transit, a wait would be a bet without terms.
Keep the separate deadlines in view. The Section 301 China exclusions set to expire on November 10 are a different track, and the lists announced this week do not replace planning for that date.
We are matching client product lists against both lists and will report when an implementing notice appears. If you want that check for your products, reach out to your ShipTech account manager.