General Tariff Rate

The General Tariff Rate is the rate applied by a country's customs tariff to imported goods originating from countries (regions) with which it has not signed a trade agreement or to which it has not granted most-favored-nation treatment. It is usually the highest tariff rate, applicable to goods originating from countries (regions) that have no diplomatic relations, no reciprocal trade agreement, or no participation in a specific preferential arrangement. Use cases include: when importing from non-WTO members, sanctioned countries, or countries without a free trade agreement, customs assesses duties at the general tariff rate. Notes: The general tariff rate is often much higher than the MFN rate; companies should first confirm whether the country of origin qualifies for an agreement rate or MFN rate to avoid high tax burdens; also pay attention to additional duties such as anti-dumping and countervailing duties. Differences from other terms: The MFN rate applies to WTO members or countries with reciprocal agreements, the agreement rate applies to FTA partners, and the preferential rate applies to least developed countries, etc. The general tariff rate is a "fallback" rate with the narrowest scope but the heaviest tax burden.