November 6, 2025 - China has kept import tariffs on US metallurgical coal unchanged following its latest tariff adjustments announced Nov. 5, keeping total duties at 28% and leaving trade flows between the two countries largely unaffected.

The Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council issued two notices on Nov. 5, following the recent Tump-Xi meeting between China and the US on Oct. 30.

One notice was on the termination of an additional tariff imposed earlier in March on selected US goods, mainly agricultural and consumer products, reported by Platts, part of S&P Global Commodity Insights, on Nov. 5. The second notice was for the extension, for another year, since Nov. 10, the suspension of 24 percentage points off the 34% additional import duty applied to all US imports imposed first in April.

After the revisions, the total duty on US metallurgical coal remains at 28%, comprising the 3% most-favoured-nation import tariffs on met coal, a 15% additional duty on all US imports imposed in February, and a remaining 10% surcharge introduced in April.

Market participants said the unchanged stance on coal tariffs dashed earlier hopes on the possible revival of US flows into China.

"If the coal tariffs had been reduced to around 10%-13%, it might have reopened a window of opportunity," a US coal miner source said. "But above 20% ... the door remains closed."

However, a Chinese trader source said that US coal will remain uncompetitive in China unless the import duties are significantly or entirely removed.

"If only the tariffs were lowered back to around 3%, similar to what Canadian coals are exposed to, then Chinese buyers might start considering it," the trader said. "That now appears unlikely in the short term."

Chinese Customs data showed 2.9 million mt of US coal imports in January-September, down 42% year over year, with most volumes arriving before the February tariff escalations began. No spot cargoes were observed traded by Platts between May and September.

Following February, US suppliers have instead directed volumes to India and Southeast Asia, where there are fewer tariff barriers.

"We've seen several US HVA coals offered at aggressive prices," a Southeast Asian end-user source said, including Shoal Creek, Allegheny and Blue Creek No.1 and No.4.

China's Dalian Commodities Exchange saw little change to its futures prices, with the January 2026 contract slipping 0.47% to Yuan 1,268.5/mt at the close of the afternoon trading session Nov. 5.