Swiss Watch Imports to the US: The 2026 Tariff Changes

Editorial review: 16 September 2026. This article replaces our earlier explanation of the February tariff announcement. The old headline describing a current 15% duty should not be used to calculate the cost of an order.

What the Supreme Court ruling changed

The February ruling concerned additional tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA. It did not abolish ordinary import duties or every other tariff authority. Switzerland's State Secretariat for Economic Affairs explains the distinction between the IEEPA ruling and the separate measures that followed. SECO: Swiss-US trade relations.

What the February announcement actually said

The White House proclamation dated 20 February 2026 imposed a temporary 10% import surcharge under Section 122, effective 24 February. It specified an end date of 24 July 2026 unless modified or extended under the stated conditions. The statute's 15% ceiling is not the same as the rate imposed by that proclamation. Read the proclamation.

The July action changed the tariff basis again

USTR announced a separate Section 301 action on 23 July 2026. US Customs and Border Protection issued entry guidance effective from 24 July. This is a different measure from February's temporary surcharge. USTR announcement.

For Swiss-origin goods covered by the measure and not exempted, CBP describes two cases:

• If the ordinary column-one duty, or its ad valorem equivalent, is below 12.5%, the combined ordinary and Section 301 rate is 12.5%.
• If that ordinary rate is already 12.5% or higher, no additional duty is assessed under this measure.

The guidance lists exceptions and the relevant tariff headings. This is not an instruction to add 12.5% to every watch invoice. The watch's classification, origin and applicable exceptions must be checked. CBP guidance, Swiss headings 9903.05.73 and 9903.05.74.

What to confirm before importing a watch

Obtain an order-specific landed-cost estimate from the carrier or customs broker using the watch's country of origin, tariff classification, declared value and intended entry date. Ask for the duty calculation and any shipping, clearance or other charges to be listed separately. Confirm which charges the seller collects and which you will pay separately.

Do not treat the dealer's location as the watch's country of origin, or assume that a pre-owned watch is automatically exempt. A tariff announcement also does not establish a particular resale-price movement or guarantee a buying opportunity. Compare the delivered cost of the specific watch, its condition and included set.

Recheck the applicable rules when the shipment is arranged. This dated review explains the published changes; it is not a customs quotation for a particular order.

For current availability, browse our watches. For an order-specific shipping discussion, contact us with the watch link and destination before deciding whether to proceed.