What is the U.S. tariff rate on paints, coatings, and finishes?

USITC calculated duties imply an effective rate of 8.92% in Jun 2026 (calculated duties ÷ covered customs value, USITC DataWeb). The parseable Column 1 General line-rate range is 1.8%–5.9%; individual lines are called “Free” only when the official General field is literally Free, and product, origin, preference and tariff mix can contribute to the observed-rate difference.

What are the statutory MFN line rates for paints, coatings, and finishes?

The parseable Column 1 General line-rate range is 1.8%–5.9% across the family's 6 eight-digit HTS lines in the 2026 Harmonized Tariff Schedule (headings 3208, 3209, 3210). “Free” means the official General field is literally Free for a line; it does not determine final entry liability.

Which countries supply the most paints, coatings, and finishes to the U.S.?

Top retained sources in 2025: Canada ($359.9M at 5.3%), Germany ($180.2M at 11.26%), Mexico ($124.2M at 10.99%). Canada holds 29.2% of total family import customs value. Retained sources cover 88%; their HHI is 1340, a lower bound whose floor falls in the diversified range without classifying the omitted tail.

How much paints, coatings, and finishes does the U.S. import?

$1.2B of customs value in 2025, with $120.5M in USITC Calculated Duties — an effective calculated-duty rate of 9.77%.

Is the U.S. a net importer of paints, coatings, and finishes?

No — a net exporter in 2025: $1.2B imported vs $2.8B exported.

Tariff monitor · Other Families

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

USITC Column 1 General rates for 6 paints, coatings, and finishes HTS lines (parseable range 1.8%–5.9%). Effective rate Jun 2026: 8.92%; monthly history since 2014.

The short answer

The observed effective calculated-duty rate on U.S. imports of paints, coatings, and finishes was 8.92% in Jun 2026, down from 10.25% a year earlier — USITC Calculated Duties divided by covered customs value. The Column 1 General line-rate range is 1.8%–5.9% across 6 HTS lines in the 2026 schedule; individual lines are called “Free” only when the official General field is literally Free, which still does not determine a shipment’s final duty. 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 a parseable Column 1 General range of 1.8%–5.9% in the 2026 schedule. “Free” means the official General field is literally Free for that line; it does not determine final entry liability.
Chapter 99 references on individual lines (for example, 9903.90.08) identify provisions to review; applicability and any additional duty depend on the entry facts.

Observed calculated-duty data

Latest month on record (2026-06): 8.92% effective on $105.9M of imports, versus 10.25% in the same month a year earlier. The monthly archive holds 150 observations from 2014-01 through 2026-06.
In 2025, U.S. imports for consumption in this family totaled $1.2B in customs value, with $120.5M in USITC reported calculated duty on $1.2B of covered customs value: an effective calculated-duty rate of 9.77%. The aggregate reflects the recorded entry mix but does not attribute the result to a specific legal provision.
A year earlier the effective calculated-duty rate was 2.91%, so the observed rate 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%).
Reported freight and insurance equaled 3.34% of covered customs value in 2025 ($36.2M total); charge coverage was 88% of customs value, from USITC DataWeb. It is shown alongside the effective calculated-duty rate and is not part of the customs-value duty base.
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? USITC calculated duties imply an effective rate of 8.92% in Jun 2026 (calculated duties ÷ covered customs value, USITC DataWeb). The parseable Column 1 General line-rate range is 1.8%–5.9%; individual lines are called “Free” only when the official General field is literally Free, and product, origin, preference and tariff mix can contribute to the observed-rate difference.
What are the statutory MFN line rates for paints, coatings, and finishes? The parseable Column 1 General line-rate range is 1.8%–5.9% across the family's 6 eight-digit HTS lines in the 2026 Harmonized Tariff Schedule (headings 3208, 3209, 3210). “Free” means the official General field is literally Free for a line; it does not determine final entry liability.
Which countries supply the most paints, coatings, and finishes to the U.S.? Top retained sources in 2025: Canada ($359.9M at 5.3%), Germany ($180.2M at 11.26%), Mexico ($124.2M at 10.99%). Canada holds 29.2% of total family import customs value. Retained sources cover 88%; their HHI is 1340, a lower bound whose floor falls in the diversified range without classifying the omitted tail.
How much paints, coatings, and finishes does the U.S. import? $1.2B of customs value in 2025, with $120.5M in USITC Calculated Duties — an effective calculated-duty rate of 9.77%.
Is the U.S. a net importer of paints, coatings, and finishes? No — a net exporter in 2025: $1.2B imported vs $2.8B exported.

About this data

Reference statistics derived from USITC published data. Not a customs ruling. MFN-Free and Special-rate fields describe statutory line coverage only; final entry liability requires origin, date, eligibility, exclusions and other transaction facts. Calculated Duties are statistical estimates, not a cash-collections ledger. Confirm classification, origin, program eligibility, and final entry liability with a licensed customs broker.

Last reviewed 2026-08-31.