Big Rigs · Nationwide · October 29, 2026

Certain Chinese Van Trailers Face Tariffs of About 260%; Truckers Shopping for Trailers May Want to Ask Dealers

By Big Rig Daily Staff · Updated Oct 29, 2026, 8:13 a.m. PT

The U.S. Commerce Department is imposing tariffs of about 260% on certain Chinese trailers, after determining that a high level of imports harms domestic production, Transport Topics reported on Oct. 28. The move was praised by U.S. trailer manufacturers.

What was decided

A ruling from the bipartisan International Trade Commission concluded that so-called "van-type trailers" were being "dumped" into the U.S., meaning they were imported at very low prices that make it hard for domestic manufacturers to compete. The measures, effective Oct. 28, include anti-dumping and countervailing duties, according to a Federal Register notice, and will last at least five years.

The American Trailer Manufacturers Coalition, a group of U.S. companies that petitioned for the ruling, estimates that 40% of van-type trailers in the U.S. were produced in China, Mexico or Canada.

A separate probe into trailer imports from Mexico and Canada is expected to finish in early 2027.

What manufacturers said

Chris Hammond, executive vice president at trailer company Great Dane, said the number of U.S. trailer manufacturers has fallen sharply. "Two decades ago there were about 20 different trailer manufacturers and now that's basically down to six with the foreign competition," he said. "They have kind of systematically been picking them off year after year."

Manufacturers are already looking to benefit. Bob Wahlin, CEO of Stoughton Trailers, said the company plans to add 500 to 700 more people to its U.S. workforce over the next six months. Stoughton currently employs fewer than 2,000 people, he said. A person familiar with the Wisconsin-based company's plans said it is also planning a $26 million capital investment, which is expected to create thousands of trailer manufacturing jobs. That detail came from an unnamed source and was not confirmed by the company in the report.

What it means for trailer buyers

The report did not say how the tariffs will change trailer prices or availability, and it gave no price estimate. Anyone shopping for a new trailer may want to ask a dealer how the duties affect a specific model.

Quick facts

• Tariff rate: about 260% on certain Chinese van-type trailers.
• Effective: Oct. 28, 2026, for at least five years.
• Industry estimate: 40% of U.S. van-type trailers produced in China, Mexico or Canada.
• Mexico and Canada trailer probe: expected to conclude in early 2027.

Big Rig Daily has also covered trailer orders surging while truck orders stay mixed and how tariffs have hit steel imports at Port Milwaukee. See also what happened to used sleeper truck inventory.

A question for readers

If you buy or lease trailers, would you expect higher prices from these tariffs, or more choices from U.S. makers?

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