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Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals Tariff Recovery

U.S. importers in chemicals & pharmaceuticals have overpaid an estimated $9.7B in IEEPA tariffs. The most affected products include Organic chemicals, Pharmaceutical ingredients, Plastics. Current duty rates range from 5-25% under HTS chapters 28, 29, 30, 38. These entries are eligible for CAPE Phase 1 refund recovery.

Tariff Impact on Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals

Duty Range

5-25%

IEEPA + Section 301 combined

Estimated Refund Pool

$9.7B

across all U.S. importers

HTS Chapters

4

Ch. 28, 29, 30, 38

The IEEPA tariff surcharges on chemicals & pharmaceuticals products have created significant duty overpayments for U.S. importers. Under the CAPE Phase 1 program, CBP allows importers to recover these overpayments through a streamlined declaration process. The estimated $9.7B refund pool represents the aggregate overpayment across all affected entries in this sector.

Most Affected Products

The following chemicals & pharmaceuticals products are among the most commonly affected by IEEPA and Section 301 tariffs:

ProductHTS ChaptersDuty RangeIEEPA Eligible
Organic chemicals28, 29, 30 +15-25%Eligible
Pharmaceutical ingredients28, 29, 30 +15-25%Eligible
Plastics28, 29, 30 +15-25%Eligible

For a full HTS code lookup, see the HTS Code reference.

How to Recover

Recovering chemicals & pharmaceuticals tariff overpayments through CAPE Phase 1 follows these steps:

  1. 1

    Export your ACE data

    Log into ACE and download your ES-003 report filtered for HTS chapters 28, 29, 30 and related chapters. This is the standard entry summary export that lists all your import entries.

  2. 2

    Upload to Tariffi

    Upload your ES-003 CSV to Tariffi. Our system automatically identifies chemicals & pharmaceuticals entries subject to IEEPA and Section 301 tariffs, calculates duty overpayments, and flags entries eligible for CAPE Phase 1 recovery.

  3. 3

    Review your recovery estimate

    See a detailed breakdown of qualifying entries, estimated refund amounts, and duty rates (5-25%). Tariffi provides entry-level detail so you and your broker can review every line.

  4. 4

    Your broker files via ACE

    Your licensed customs broker partner reviews the prepared CAPE declaration data, applies their professional judgment on HTS classifications, and files through CBP's ACE portal. Tariffi never files directly — your broker is always the Filer of Record under 19 U.S.C. section 1641.

  5. 5

    Receive your refund

    CBP processes CAPE Phase 1 declarations on a rolling basis. Most importers see refunds deposited via ACH within 60-90 days of a successful filing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What IEEPA tariffs affect the chemicals & pharmaceuticals industry?
Products in the chemicals & pharmaceuticals sector classified under HTS chapters 28, 29, 30, 38 are subject to IEEPA and Section 301 tariffs ranging from 5-25%. These entries may qualify for refund recovery through the CBP CAPE Phase 1 portal.
How much can chemicals & pharmaceuticals importers recover?
The estimated IEEPA/Section 301 refund pool for chemicals & pharmaceuticals is approximately $9.7B. Your actual recovery depends on your specific entry volume, duty rates, and the CAPE eligibility of each entry. Upload your ES-003 for a free analysis.
What products in chemicals & pharmaceuticals are eligible for tariff refunds?
The most commonly affected products include Organic chemicals, Pharmaceutical ingredients, Plastics. Any product classified under the applicable HTS chapters that was imported with IEEPA or Section 301 duties may be eligible.
How does the CAPE filing process work for my industry?
The process is the same across all industries: (1) Upload your ACE ES-003 export to Tariffi, (2) Tariffi identifies qualifying entries and prepares the CAPE declaration data, (3) Your licensed customs broker partner reviews and files via ACE. Tariffi is a data-preparation platform — your broker is always the Filer of Record under 19 U.S.C. section 1641.
Are there industry-specific considerations for chemicals & pharmaceuticals tariff recovery?
Yes. Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals imports may involve multiple HTS classifications across chapters 28, 29, 30, 38, each with different duty rates (5-25%). Tariffi's automated analysis handles multi-chapter entries and flags any that require additional broker review for classification accuracy.

Related resources

Calculate your chemicals & pharmaceuticals refund

Upload your ES-003 and see exactly how much your chemicals & pharmaceuticals entries could recover — no advance fees, no commitment.

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Questions? support@tariffi.io