On July 23, 2026, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced the final Section 301 tariff measures, which took effect on July 24, 2026.
Under the latest implementation list, certain food and nutritional raw materials imported from China are now subject to additional tariffs. These products face a 12.5% Section 301 tariff surcharge on top of the applicable Most-Favored-Nation (MFN) duty rates.
This adjustment covers popular ingredients across food additives, dietary supplements, and sports nutrition. The tariffs are expected to further raise U.S. import costs and impact China-U.S. trade in nutritional ingredients.
List of Affected Nutritional Ingredients
| Product | HS Code | Basic Duty | Section 301 Duty | Additional Tariff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DL-Malic Acid | 2918196000 | 4.00% | 25% | 12.50% |
| Creatine Monohydrate | 2925299000 | 3.70% | 25% | 12.50% |
| β-Alanine | 2922491000 | 5.80% | 25% | 12.50% |
| Taurine | 2921196195 | 6.50% | 25% | 12.50% |
| MCT Powder | 2915901050 | 5.00% | 25% | 12.50% |
| Magnesium Bisglycinate | 2922498000 | 3.70% | 25% | 12.50% |
| D-Glucosamine HCl | 2932999010 | 3.70% | 0% | 12.50% |
| D-Glucosamine Sulfate KCl | 2932999010 | 3.70% | 0% | 12.50% |
| N-Acetyl-D-Glucosamine | 2932999010 | 3.70% | 0% | 12.50% |
| MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane) | 2930909225 | 3.70% | 0% | 12.50% |
| L-Aspartic Acid | 2922494915 | 4.20% | 25% | 12.50% |
| L-Lysine HCl | 2922410090 | 3.70% | 0% | 12.50% |
| L-Carnitine | 2923900100 | 6.20% | 25% | 12.50% |
| Acetyl L-Carnitine HCl | 2923900100 | 6.20% | 25% | 12.50% |
| D-Ribose | 2940006000 | 5.80% | 25% | 12.50% |
| Phosphatidylserine | 2923900100 | 6.20% | 25% | 12.50% |
| Allulose | 2940006000 | 5.80% | 25% | 12.50% |
| Trehalose | 2940006000 | 5.80% | 25% | 12.50% |
| Sucralose | 2932140000 | 3.70% | 0% | 12.50% |
| Xanthan Gum | 3913902015 | 5.80% | 25% | 12.50% |
This table lists only a selection of food and nutritional ingredients covered by the latest U.S. Section 301 tariffs.
The newly included tariff list spans multiple key segments of the U.S. dietary supplement and food processing industries:
- Sports Nutrition: Creatine monohydrate, β-alanine, taurine, and MCT powder are among the fastest-growing products in recent years, widely used in sports nutrition supplements, energy drinks, and protein powders.
- Joint Health: Glucosamine series (HCl, sulfate KCl, N-acetyl) and MSM are core ingredients in the U.S. joint health supplement market, with China long serving as the dominant global supplier.
- Functional Foods: Magnesium bisglycinate, L-carnitine, acetyl L-carnitine, phosphatidylserine, and D-ribose are extensively used in products targeting sleep support, brain health, cardiovascular health, and metabolic wellness.
- Food Industry: Xanthan gum, malic acid, trehalose, allulose, and sucralose are found in beverages, dairy products, baked goods, snacks, and many other food categories.
The new Section 301 tariffs are not aimed at a single product but cover multiple critical raw materials across the U.S. nutritional and health product supply chain. Given that many of these ingredients are highly concentrated in Chinese production, U.S. importers face limited short-term alternatives. The added tariffs are therefore expected to directly raise import costs.
Looking ahead, U.S. brand owners may absorb or pass on the costs through several channels: raising retail prices, restructuring supply chains, increasing procurement from third-country sources, or renegotiating pricing with Chinese suppliers.
However, for products where China holds a clear competitive advantage—such as creatine monohydrate, taurine, glucosamine, and xanthan gum—the Chinese supply chain is expected to maintain strong competitiveness in the near term. The tariffs are more likely to affect purchasing costs and profit margins than to rapidly alter the global supply landscape.
