Why This Calendar Matters
If you source from China, 2026 is the most policy-dense year in a decade. Three structural shifts land in H2:
- US $800 de minimis repeal — Fully in effect mid-2026. Every parcel entering the US is now dutiable.
- EU €3 parcel tariff — A mid-year landing creates new compliance filing requirements for EU-bound direct-to-consumer shipments.
- USTR Section 301 review window — The biennial statutory review of tariff actions on Chinese goods opens in H2, with potential for scope modifications.
Buyers who do not track these dates face unplanned duty costs, customs holds, or lost access to tariff exclusion programs.
H2 2026 Critical Dates
July
| Date | Event | Impact |
|---|
| July 7–11 | ICAST (Orlando) | New product discovery; sample duty prep for returned goods |
| July 15–31 | USTR Section 301 public comment window (expected) | Last chance to file for product-specific exclusion modifications before 2027 review |
| July 31 | CBAM Q2 2026 quarterly filing deadline | EU importers of covered goods (applies to some metal terminal tackle categories) |
August
| Date | Event | Impact |
|---|
| Aug 1 | China Customs summer tariff review published | Seasonal duty adjustments take effect |
| Aug 15 | H2 inventory order deadline for China Fish Show deliveries | Latest date to place orders for February 2027 show samples |
| Aug 31 | EU €3 parcel tariff transitional compliance forms due | First compliance filing for EU-bound B2C parcels |
September
| Date | Event | Impact |
|---|
| Sep 1 | China Fish Show exhibitor registration opens | Early-bird booth pricing ends Oct 31 |
| Sep 10–12 | ICAF (Guangzhou) | South China sourcing; Q4 capacity negotiation |
| Sep 30 | US Section 301 tariff product exclusion (third batch) expiry | Check if your HS codes are covered |
October
| Date | Event | Impact |
|---|
| Oct 1 | China National Day holiday (Golden Week) | Factories closed Oct 1–7; order lead times extend 2–3 weeks |
| Oct 15 | ICAST new product award entry deadline | If you’re submitting a product for 2027 ICAST |
| Oct 31 | US de minimis $800 rule — full enforcement milestone | CBP ramps up audit of de minimis declarations |
November
| Date | Event | Impact |
|---|
| Nov 1 | H2 factory audit season begins | Best time for unannounced quality checks |
| Nov 15–30 | MOFCOM annual export policy review (expected) | Potential changes to export tax rebate rates |
| Nov 30 | CBAM Q3 quarterly filing deadline | EU-bound shipments tracking |
December
| Date | Event | Impact |
|---|
| Dec 1 | 2027 H1 sourcing plan deadline | Last window to lock factory capacity before January price adjustments |
| Dec 15 | China Fish Show visitor pre-registration deadline | Free admission requires pre-registration |
| Dec 31 | EU UCC reform transitional deadline | Customs declaration format changes for EU imports |
What You Should Do Before Each Milestone
Before July USTR Review
- Identify your product HS codes and check whether they are currently covered by Section 301 exclusions.
- File a public comment if your product should be excluded or if scope modifications affect your supply chain.
- Plan any tariff-engineered routing changes before the mid-July window closes.
Before August EU Parcel Filing
- Audit your direct-to-consumer channels for EU-bound shipments.
- Classify each SKU’s HS code under the EU’s CN nomenclature.
- Budget for the €3 per-parcel duty or prepare to shift to bulk consignment.
Before October De Minimis Audit Wave
- Review your US import declarations for 2025–2026.
- Identify any shipments that relied on de minimis entry.
- Restructure order sizes or shipping methods to comply with full dutiable treatment.
Sources & Further Reading
- USTR Section 301 public comment docket (regulations.gov, accessed 2026-06-21)
- EU Customs Union — CBAM transitional filing portal (europa.eu, accessed 2026-06-21)
- US CBP de minimis rule fact sheet (cbp.gov, accessed 2026-06-21)
- China MOFCOM export policy archive (mofcom.gov.cn, accessed 2026-06-21)
This calendar is compiled from publicly available government schedules and may change. Always verify deadlines against official source documents before acting.
Found a mistake? See our corrections policy.
Have a tip? Contact the editor.
