Section 301 investigation: Germany pharmaceutical pricing (no duties yet)
USTR opened a Section 301 investigation on June 18, 2026 into what it calls Germany's persistent underpayment for innovative pharmaceutical products, with a public hearing and written comments. No tariff has been proposed or imposed; a Section 301 investigation can end in duties, another trade action, or an agreement, and USTR has twelve months from initiation to determine whether the practices are actionable. Importers of German goods should watch this alongside the 10% forced-labor duty Germany already carries as an EU member.
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Timeline
- Under reviewFederal Register
Investigation initiated
USTR initiates a Section 301 investigation into Germany's pricing and reimbursement of innovative pharmaceuticals and requests public comments and a hearing. No tariff action is proposed at this stage.
Official sources
Official sources
Status verified 09/10/2026
Related measures
Section 301 tariffs on China (Lists 1–4A and 2024 strategic increases)
The original China tariffs: 25% on roughly $250B of imports (Lists 1–3) and 7.5% on List 4A, in force since 2018–2020, plus the 2024 four-year-review increases on strategic sectors — including 100% on EVs, 50% on solar cells and semiconductors, and 25% on lithium-ion batteries. These survived the IEEPA ruling untouched and remain the bedrock of U.S.–China tariff exposure. USTR initiated a second statutory four-year review in May 2026; continuation-request windows closed in July and August 2026 and the next phase has no published date. Since July 24, 2026 a separate 12.5% Section 301 forced-labor duty stacks on top.
Current rate: 25% (Lists 1–3); 7.5% (List 4A); strategic-sector increases incl. 100% EVs, 50% solar cells and semiconductors, 25% lithium-ion batteries
Section 301 product exclusions (extended through November 10, 2026)
Exclusions that exempt specific products — mostly machinery and manufacturing inputs — from Section 301 China tariffs. As part of the November 2025 trade truce they were extended through November 10, 2026. Importers relying on an exclusion face a hard repricing if it lapses with the truce.
Current rate: 0% additional duty for excluded products (otherwise 25%)
Pause expires:Section 301 forced-labor tariffs on 60 economies (10% / 12.5%)
On July 24, 2026 — the day the Section 122 surcharge lapsed — USTR imposed additional duties of 10% or 12.5% ad valorem on products of 60 economies under Section 301, concluding investigations into each economy's failure to impose or enforce a ban on imports made with forced labor. The rate is set per economy: for example Canada, Mexico, India, the United Kingdom, Malaysia and Indonesia pay 10%; China, Vietnam, Brazil and Thailand pay 12.5%; the EU and Taiwan pay 10% and Japan, Korea and Switzerland 12.5%, each assessed net of the MFN rate. Articles subject to Section 232 duties are exempt, as are annex-listed products for several economies, and goods loaded before July 24 that entered before July 28, 2026.
Current rate: 10% or 12.5% additional ad valorem by economy (EU and Taiwan 10%, Japan, Korea and Switzerland 12.5%, each net of the MFN rate); goods subject to Section 232 duties and annex-listed products are exempt