Trade news
Moved your air compressor sourcing out of China? The duties may have followed you
On October 1, 2026, the Commerce Department set preliminary countervailing duties on piston air compressors from China, Vietnam and Malaysia. For exporters without their own rate, the new cash deposit is 3.84% from China, 37.20% from Vietnam and 92.86% from Malaysia.
Air compressor tariff rates for China, Vietnam and Malaysia
These are preliminary countervailing duty rates, charged as a percent of entered value. The all-others rate applies to any exporter Commerce did not name.
Malaysia: 92.86% for every exporter
All five named exporters, including Puma Air Compressors and Alton Intelligent Technology, received 92.86%. Every Malaysian rate is based on adverse facts available.
Vietnam: 37.20% all-others rate
Eight named companies, including TTI (Vietnam), Fusheng and Jinfeida, received 74.39%. Hybest-Vietnam's rate of 0.35% is de minimis, so its entries are not suspended.
China: 3.84% all-others rate
FNA (Zhejiang) received a calculated 3.84%, which became the all-others rate. Six exporters, including Suzhou Alton, received 112.29% based on adverse facts available.
Adverse facts available means Commerce found that a company did not fully cooperate, so it used figures unfavorable to that company. Most of the highest rates in these cases come from it.
Which portable and stationary air compressors are covered (HTS 8414.80.16)
The cases cover reciprocating, or piston, air compressors with a built-in tank of 1 to 80 gallons and a rating of 0.5 to 30 HP (373 W to 22.37 kW).
They can be electric, gas or battery powered, direct drive or belt driven, and portable or stationary.
HTS codes named in the scope: 8414.80.1615, 8414.80.1625 and 8414.80.1635 for stationary compressors, and 8414.80.1685 for portable compressors.
Kits and bundles: a compressor sold in a kit with hoses, nail guns, paint sprayers or other air tools is covered. The accessories are covered only when they come in the kit.
Unfinished and third-country finished units: unfinished compressors are covered. So are compressors assembled, labeled, packaged or kitted in a third country or in the US.
Excluded compressors: rotary screw, rotary vane, scroll, centrifugal and axial compressors are excluded, as are tankless inflators rated 1 CFM or less.
The written scope decides coverage. The HTS numbers are listed for convenience only.
Tariffs on China: why moving production did not avoid these duties
Trade cases follow the import data. When imports shift from China to a neighbor, US producers can name the new countries in the same petition. That is the risk built into a China plus one strategy.
That is what happened here. The petitioner, MAT Industries, LLC, filed against China, Malaysia and Vietnam together, and Commerce opened antidumping and countervailing duty cases on all three countries in May 2026.
Most of the highest rates do not come from measured subsidies. They come from adverse facts available. A supplier that answers Commerce's questionnaires in full has a real chance at a lower rate of its own.
If final orders are issued, Commerce can also open circumvention inquiries into minor processing in other countries. Moving final assembly is a weak hedge.
The antidumping duty decision on air compressors comes next
The October 1 deposits are only half of the case. Commerce is also running antidumping investigations on the same compressors from the same three countries.
Its preliminary antidumping decisions are due by November 27, 2026. Any antidumping deposit would be collected on top of the countervailing duty deposit.
Both final decisions are due together by February 10, 2027, unless postponed. The ITC then votes on injury, by the later of 120 days after the preliminary decision or 45 days after the final. That points to about late March 2027.
If the ITC finds no injury to a US industry, no order is issued and the deposits are refunded.
Key dates
May 2026: cases opened. Commerce opened antidumping and countervailing duty investigations on air compressors from China, Malaysia and Vietnam.
June 2026: ITC preliminary vote. The ITC found a reasonable indication that the imports injure a US industry, which kept the cases going.
October 1, 2026: CVD deposits start. Preliminary countervailing duty rates apply to entries made on or after this date.
November 27, 2026: AD decisions due. Commerce must issue its preliminary antidumping determinations by this date.
February 10, 2027: final decisions due. Final antidumping and countervailing duty determinations are due together, unless postponed.
How to check air compressor tariffs for a shipment
Check the product against the written scope. Look at the pump type, tank size and horsepower. The written scope controls, not the HTS code alone.
Name the producer and the exporter. If both have their own rates and they differ, the higher one applies. If only one has a rate, that rate applies. Otherwise the country's all-others rate applies.
Re-run landed cost. A $10,000 entry from a Malaysian exporter now needs a $9,286 cash deposit before any other duty.
Ask suppliers if they are responding to Commerce. Cooperating respondents can earn their own rates in the final. Those that do not respond are usually assigned the highest rates.
Review contracts and your customs bond. Check who pays AD/CVD deposits under your Incoterms, and ask your broker whether your continuous bond still covers the higher duty exposure.
Track the next dates. Preliminary antidumping decisions are due by November 27, 2026, and final decisions by February 10, 2027.
Frequently asked questions
What is a countervailing duty?
A countervailing duty is an extra import duty that offsets subsidies a foreign government gives its producers. Commerce measures the subsidy and sets a rate, and the ITC decides whether the imports injure a US industry. Both must rule for the petitioner before a final order is issued.
Do the new air compressor tariffs apply to goods already shipped?
Yes, if the goods enter the US, or are withdrawn from a bonded warehouse, on or after October 1, 2026. The entry date counts, not the shipping date.
Are these air compressor tariffs final?
No. These are preliminary rates collected as cash deposits. Final determinations are due by February 10, 2027, and the ITC must then find injury before any order is issued.
Reviewed October 7, 2026 against the Federal Register notices linked above. This article is informational and is not legal or customs advice.