Most coverage of 2025 tariffs focused on headline percentages and country disputes. What received far less attention, but mattered far more for bulk spice importers, was how tariffs were technically applied and removed at the HTS and entry level.
For the spice industry, 2025 was not about a new permanent duty. It was about the creation of a modular tariff system that temporarily overrode normal rates, then selectively excluded products like spices. Understanding that structure is critical going into 2026.
1. 2025 introduced “overlay tariffs,” not new base spice duties
In April 2025, the U.S. introduced a reciprocal tariff system that applied additional duties based on country of origin, not product category. These duties were implemented through HTS Chapter 99 (9903 provisions), the same mechanism historically used for Section 301 and other special tariffs.
For bulk spices, this meant:
- Normal HTS Chapter 9 duty rates did not change
- A separate, country-based surcharge was added at entry
- The surcharge ranged from 25% to 50%, depending on the origin
This distinction matters because many spice buyers initially assumed the tariffs were “built into” the spice HS codes themselves. They were not. They were layered on top.
2. November 2025: spices moved into a formal exemption category
In mid-November 2025, the U.S. government amended the reciprocal tariff framework and explicitly excluded certain agricultural goods from the additional duties. Spices were included in that exclusion.
This exemption was implemented via an annex-based system, meaning:
- Spices were exempt only when correctly classified
- The exemption applied at the HTS line level
- Entry timing mattered (based on date of entry or withdrawal from bonded warehouse)
In practical terms, two shipments of the same spice could face different duty outcomes if:
- One was misclassified
- One was entered before the effective exemption date
- One used a different HTS subheading (especially relevant for blends)
3. Classification accuracy became a cost factor, not just compliance
One of the under-reported outcomes of 2025 is that HTS classification directly affected tariff exposure, even for traditionally low-duty products like spices.
This was especially relevant for:
- Spice blends vs single-ingredient spices
- Crushed or processed forms vs whole
- Blends containing salt, flavorings, or functional ingredients
Under the 2025 system, only products falling under the correct Chapter 9 headings listed in the exemption annex were excluded from reciprocal tariffs. Anything classified outside those lines remained exposed until reclassified.
For bulk buyers, this shifted classification from a “customs formality” to a landed-cost control mechanism.
4. “Aligned partner” treatment showed how exemptions can be re-scoped
Alongside the agricultural exemption, the U.S. also introduced a separate concept in 2025: aligned partner tariff treatment.
Under this framework:
- Certain countries negotiating trade frameworks with the U.S. could receive zero reciprocal tariffs on selected products
- Other products from the same country could still face higher rates
This matters for spices because it shows that product-level carve-outs are now a standard policy tool. Even when spices are exempt today, the framework allows for future re-scoping, either expanding or narrowing coverage without changing base HTS rates.
5. What did not change in 2025 (and why that matters)
Despite the volatility, several things remained stable:
- Base MFN duty rates for spices did not increase
- No new anti-dumping or countervailing duties were introduced for spices
- No export bans were imposed by major spice-producing countries
- U.S. import volumes for spices remained resilient despite mid-year disruptions
This stability reinforces an important point: the risk in 2025 was structural, not product-specific. The spice category itself was not targeted; it was temporarily caught inside a broader tariff architecture.
6. What bulk spice importers should carry into 2026
Without speculating on future policy, the documented 2025 framework implies three concrete operational priorities for 2026:
- HTS discipline
Each spice and blend should have a clearly documented, defensible HTS classification aligned with Chapter 9 exemptions. - Country-of-origin clarity
Because tariffs were applied by origin, traceability and documentation remain critical even when exemptions exist. - Entry-date awareness
Tariff applicability in 2025 depended on entry and withdrawal dates, not contract or shipment dates, a detail that directly affects landed cost reconciliation.
Why this matters for the spice industry specifically
Spices are essential inputs that cannot be produced at scale in the U.S. The 2025 tariff system implicitly acknowledged this by carving them out rather than imposing long-term duties.
But the year also demonstrated something new: spices are no longer invisible in trade policy mechanics. They are now explicitly named, categorized, and exempted, and if policy shifts, could just as easily be re-categorized.
For bulk spice buyers, the takeaway from 2025 is not fear of tariffs, but awareness of how quickly trade mechanics can change and how much classification, documentation, and timing now matter.