Tariff monitor · Other Families

Paints, Coatings, and Finishes: Statutory & Effective Tariff Rates

Statutory HTS duty rates for 6 paints, coatings, and finishes tariff lines (MFN 1.8%–5.9%), from USITC. Effective rate May 2026: 8.85%; monthly history since 2014.

The short answer

  • The effective U.S. tariff on paints, coatings, and finishes was 8.85% in May 2026, down from 9.81% a year earlier — calculated duties actually paid divided by customs value, from USITC data. The statutory MFN rate is 1.8%–5.9% across 6 HTS lines in the 2026 schedule. Canada is the largest source, holding 29.2% of 2025 imports.

Statutory rates from the schedule

  • Solvent- and water-based paints, primers, and varnishes — the protective and cosmetic finish on fabricated parts. This family covers HTS headings 3208, 3209, 3210: 6 eight-digit rate lines with MFN (column 1, general) rates of 1.8%–5.9% in the 2026 schedule.
  • Chapter 99 flags on individual lines mark Section 301/232 overlay provisions (e.g. 9903.88.03) that apply on top of the MFN column.

What importers actually paid

  • Latest month on record (2026-05): 8.85% effective on $105.2M of imports, versus 9.81% in the same month a year earlier. The monthly archive holds 149 observations from 2014-01 through 2026-05.
  • In 2025, U.S. imports for consumption in this family totaled $1.2B in customs value and paid $120.5M in calculated duties: an effective tariff rate of 9.77%. The effective rate captures Section 301/232 overlays, exclusions, and special-program use that the statutory column cannot.
  • A year earlier the effective rate was 2.91%, so the duty burden rose 6.9 points.
  • Top source countries in 2025: Canada ($359.9M at 5.3%), Germany ($180.2M at 11.26%), Mexico ($124.2M at 10.99%), Japan ($83.7M at 10.97%), Italy ($75.1M at 11.58%).
  • For scale, 2025 imports in this family equal 0.1% of the U.S. chemical products industry's $1.03T gross output (2025, BEA).

Representative rate lines

  • 3208.10.00.00: Based on polyesters · MFN 3.7%
  • 3208.20.00.00: Based on acrylic or vinyl polymers · MFN 3.6%
  • 3208.90.00.00: Other · MFN 3.2%
  • 3209.10.00.00: Based on acrylic or vinyl polymers · MFN 5.1%
  • 3209.90.00.00: Other · MFN 5.9%
  • 3210.00.00.00: Other paints and varnishes (including enamels, lacquers and distempers); prepared water pi · MFN 1.8%

Frequently asked questions

  • What is the U.S. tariff rate on paints, coatings, and finishes? Importers paid an effective rate of 8.85% in May 2026 (calculated duties ÷ customs value, USITC DataWeb). The statutory MFN rate is 1.8%–5.9%; Section 301/232 overlays and special programs explain the difference.
  • What is the statutory MFN duty rate for paints, coatings, and finishes? 1.8%–5.9% across the family's 6 eight-digit HTS lines in the 2026 Harmonized Tariff Schedule (headings 3208, 3209, 3210).
  • Which countries supply the most paints, coatings, and finishes to the U.S.? Top sources in 2025: Canada ($359.9M at 5.3%), Germany ($180.2M at 11.26%), Mexico ($124.2M at 10.99%). Sourcing is diversified: Canada holds 29.2% of imports.
  • How much paints, coatings, and finishes does the U.S. import? $1.2B of customs value in 2025, paying $120.5M in calculated duties — an effective tariff of 9.77%.
  • Is the U.S. a net importer of paints, coatings, and finishes? Yes — a net exporter in 2025: $1.2B imported vs $2.8B exported (exports are 225% of imports).

About this data

  • Reference statistics derived from USITC published data. Not a customs ruling; verify rates with a licensed customs broker before relying on them.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.