If you import heavy-duty brake drums into the United States, the country of origin now matters more than the FOB price. Every origin — Vietnam included — now pays the base MFN duty plus the 25% Section 232 truck-parts tariff. But since August 2025, drums from the two largest exporting origins additionally carry anti-dumping and countervailing duties that can multiply the invoice several times over — while Vietnam-origin drums carry none of those origin-specific duties. This guide lays out the full duty stack by origin, with the current figures and where to verify them.
The Duty Stack, Explained
US import charges on brake drums are layered. Each layer applies independently, and only some depend on origin:
- Base MFN duty — ~2.5%
- Brake drums classify under HTS 8708.30.50. The Most Favored Nation rate applies to every WTO-member origin, including Vietnam, China, and Turkey.
- Section 232 truck-parts tariff — 25%
- Effective November 1, 2025, medium- and heavy-duty vehicle parts — HTS 8708.30.50 brake drums are on CBP’s covered list — carry a 25% Section 232 tariff. It is origin-neutral: Vietnam, China, and Turkey all pay it on top of the MFN base.
- Anti-dumping duty (AD) — origin-specific
- Imposed when the US Department of Commerce finds exporters selling below fair value. Final AD orders on brake drums from China and Turkey took effect August 12, 2025. Vietnam has no AD order.
- Countervailing duty (CVD) — origin-specific
- Offsets foreign government subsidies. CVD orders on China and Turkey also took effect August 12, 2025. Vietnam has no CVD order.
- Broad tariff actions — origin-neutral
- Parts covered by the Section 232 truck-parts tariff are excluded from the broad reciprocal/global tariff programs — Section 232 applies instead of, not on top of, those measures. These rules change frequently — always confirm the current status with your customs broker.
Current Rates by Origin
| Origin | Base MFN | Section 232 | AD duty | CVD | All-in worst case |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | ~2.5% | 25% | up to 160.79% | up to 286.04% | up to ~474% |
| Turkey | ~2.5% | 25% | up to 149.29% | up to 131.60% | up to ~308% |
| Vietnam | ~2.5% | 25% | none | none | ~27.5% |
Two footnotes on the table. First, individual exporters within an origin can carry different rates: cooperative Turkish exporters were assigned combined rates near 18%, while non-cooperative companies received the maximums shown. Second, the combined figures stack the highest published AD and CVD rates; your broker can pull the exporter-specific rate from the Federal Register orders.
How the AD/CVD Orders Work
The orders followed a standard trade case: a petition in 2024, preliminary determinations in early 2025, final affirmative determinations from Commerce and an injury finding from the International Trade Commission in mid-2025, and final orders effective August 12, 2025. Orders remain in force for at least five years, with annual administrative reviews that can move individual exporter rates up or down — meaning importers of Chinese or Turkish drums carry rate uncertainty every year.
- Duties are collected as cash deposits at entry, based on the exporter-specific rate.
- Annual reviews can retroactively increase what an importer owes for prior entries.
- Circumvention — routing Chinese drums through third countries — is separately policed, with severe penalties. Genuine origin means genuine production: casting, machining, and finishing.
- Vietnam-origin drums are outside the scope of both orders entirely.
What It Means for Landed Cost
For a drum with a nominal $100 FOB price, the duty layer alone produces roughly: $127.50 landed duty cost from Vietnam, up to ~$408 from Turkey, and up to ~$574 from China at the maximum combined rates — before freight, insurance, and inland transport, which are broadly similar across Asian origins. Even against cooperative-rate Turkish exporters (~18% AD/CVD, so roughly $145 all-in), Vietnam-origin drums carry a structural duty advantage that no negotiation can close.
Common Questions
- Do the AD/CVD orders apply to all brake drums?
- The scope covers certain heavy-duty brake drums from China and Turkey as defined in the Federal Register orders. Whether a specific product falls in scope is determined by the order language, not the HTS code alone — your broker can request a scope ruling if in doubt.
- Could Vietnam face similar duties later?
- Any origin can be petitioned. What protects buyers today is that no petition, investigation, or order exists against Vietnamese brake drums — and genuine Vietnamese production (casting through finishing in one plant, with full traceability) is the strongest defense in any future scope or circumvention question.
- How do I verify a supplier’s claimed origin?
- Ask for the certificate of origin, then go deeper: mill certificates, casting records, factory audit reports, and batch traceability from raw iron to finished drum. A supplier that operates its own foundry can show all of it; a trader cannot.
- Where do I check the current rates myself?
- The USITC tariff database for HTS rates, the Federal Register for the AD/CVD orders and review results, and CBP for entry requirements. Rates cited on this page are as of July 2026.
TBP Auto casts, machines, and tests brake drums at a purpose-built foundry in Hung Yen, Vietnam — FMVSS 121 dyno-tested, ISO 9001 certified, with batch traceability on every unit. Send your part numbers for a landed-cost comparison against your current origin.
Related Guides
Import Guidelines for Brake Drums to the USA
Inside TBP Auto: How We Make a Brake Drum
Brake Drum Sourcing Guide for Fleet Managers
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