Imported a camera this month (April 2025) into the USA from Japan

[loccdor]

There was no additional charge from the trade changes going on. It was delivered fine with no delay. Ordered April 9th. Delivered April 15th. Just FYI as I know some people are apprehensive about that. Mods, do what this what you will, I just posted it as I thought it was of relevant photographic interest. I encourage people to stick to photography related discussion in the replies.

 

[MattKing]

Thanks - I tweaked your thread title to add to the timeliness and clarity.

 

[abruzzi]

I have a Chinese made helicoid that I ordered over a month ago set to be delivered on Friday. So I'm bracing for that one. I also have a German camera part, shipped from Hong Kong that will be arriving in a few days. I asked the seller to make sure that the origin of the part is correctly listed as Germany, not HK or China (from what I've read, we (USA) used to classify HK differently than mainland China, but in all the changes in the last month, that distinction has been removed.) I'm holding my breath on both (even a 145% tariff won't kill me, they aren't expensive parts, but I'm still very curious.)

 

[Dan Fromm]

Interesting. I bought a Nikon DR-5 from a vendor on Yahoo.jp. It was shipped via Japan Post registered mail on 4/10, spent a few days in customs in NYC, arrived 4/16. The price was 5,700 JPY. Less than $50. I wonder whether the $800 exemption is still in force.

OP, how much did your camera cost?

I should have a book coming from France, am waiting to see what happens with it.

 

[abruzzi]

the de minimus $800 exception is supposed to be gone-officially, but in the real world it takes more time to impement these policy changes than it does to tweet them.

 

[loccdor]

OP, how much did your camera cost?

My camera was only around $100.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

An article I read said that apparently U.S. Customs hasn't caught up with the tariffs announced. So goods might be sneaked in under the radar at the old costs.

 

[Nitroplait]

Didn’t they fire the public servants that would administer the collection of the added taxes? I certainly haven’t heard news of any up-staffing in this sector.

 

[mshchem]

I purchased a lens from MAP camera, 0% tariff to me. I don't think that anyone knows what is going on from hour to hour.

 

[koraks]

in the real world it takes more time to impement these policy changes than it does to tweet them.

I think this is a sensible explanation.

 

[DevStopFix]

the de minimus $800 exception is supposed to be gone-officially, but in the real world it takes more time to impement these policy changes than it does to tweet them.

The exemption ends May 2nd. Things are not being snuck in (or “sneaked” in for that matter) as asserted in another post anymore than they were before all this. Not yet anyway. Additionally, the exemption is only ending for things coming in from China and Hong Kong. At least for the time being, the exemption will remain in place for other countries.

 

[foc]

I pity the poor US customs officials. The regulations appear to keep changing.

At the time of Brexit, Ireland experienced a few months of import upheaval with products coming in from the UK. Most of the problems related to incomplete documentation on the goods arriving into the country, but it was a learning curve.

 

[perkeleellinen]

I pity the poor US customs officials. The regulations appear to keep changing.

At the time of Brexit, Ireland experienced a few months of import upheaval with products coming in from the UK. Most of the problems related to incomplete documentation on the goods arriving into the country, but it was a learning curve.

I have a student who works for the UK civil service and is part of a large team trying to work out trading systems between GB, NI and ROI. He's been doing that as his full time job for at least the last five years.

 

[loccdor]

Didn’t they fire the public servants that would administer the collection of the added taxes? I certainly haven’t heard news of any up-staffing in this sector.

These are two separate government entities. Internal Revenue Service vs. Customs & Border Patrol.

 

[BrianShaw]

The exemption ends May 2nd. Things are not being snuck in (or “sneaked” in for that matter) as asserted in another post anymore than they were before all this. Not yet anyway. Additionally, the exemption is only ending for things coming in from China and Hong Kong. At least for the time being, the exemption will remain in place for other countries.

Unless something else changes, this is a good summary of the situation. Consistent with sources closely aligned with shipping companies and importers.

In the real world it takes more time to understand these policy changes than it does to read tweets and forum posts about them.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

The exemption ends May 2nd. Things are not being snuck in (or “sneaked” in for that matter) as asserted in another post anymore than they were before all this. Not yet anyway. Additionally, the exemption is only ending for things coming in from China and Hong Kong. At least for the time being, the exemption will remain in place for other countries.

I believe the $800 di minimus is for individual purchases and shipments. If a company ships a packet of goods of let's say 500 items priced at $100 each to a retailer in the US for resale, the tariff still has to be paid.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

Factories overseas in CHina are now advertising on social media to buy directly from them at really low prices rather than from the US retailers who have cancelled their orders due to tariffs and who would have had to pay the tariff on very high mark ups retailers normally add. Even after May 2 when the $800 de minimus exemption goes into effect, the low factory prices are still really cheap, even when the tariffs are added.

 

[MartinCrabtree]

Eliminating the middle man has always been an economic benefit.

 

[foc]

Even after May 2 when the $800 de minimus exemption goes into effect, the low factory prices are still really cheap, even when the tariffs are added.

So this would mean that the US tariff income would be lower. Does that not defy the reason for introducing the tariffs in the first place. (revenue will be a lot lower that expected or am I missing something)

 

[mshchem]

Temu, Shein to raise prices for US consumers starting next week as Trump administration closes tariff loophole

Temu and Shein are planning to raise their ultra-low prices for U.S. consumers as Trump's executive order ending the "de minimus" tariff loophole is set to take effect.

www.foxbusiness.com

 

[mshchem]

Just checked MAP Camera is stating 10-13% import fee for US customers. Well probably the best thing for me. I need to save so I can continue to afford the Canadian goat cheese from Costco. Seriously it's delicious!

 

[loccdor]

Just checked MAP Camera is stating 10-13% import fee for US customers. Well probably the best thing for me. I need to save so I can continue to afford the Canadian goat cheese from Costco. Seriously it's delicious!

Hmm, I've got to wonder if this is like a repeat of that "supply chain issues" line where companies see an opportunity to start baking in a higher revenue stream (there were a lot of legitimate supply chain issues, but I think that also started getting used as a catch-all of convenience).

Goat cheese is delicious. I just visited a relative who keeps around 10 of them, it's crazy what they can climb on. But I especially like imported soft sheep's milk feta. American feta has not yet reached high standards.

 

[beemermark]

I believe the $800 di minimus is for individual purchases and shipments. If a company ships a packet of goods of let's say 500 items priced at $100 each to a retailer in the US for resale, the tariff still has to be paid.

This is how Temu works, you buy directly from them and most items are under the $800 level so presto- no tariff duties.

 

[Ballinderry-Michael]

Pedant warning:

The correct expression is de minimis - Latin for "concerning the smallest things"

There's also a legal maxim, "De minimis non curat lex" - the law doesn't concern itself with trifles.

Because the word "de" puts the word it applies to in the ablative case, "minima" (the smallest things) has to be changed to "minimis". "Minimus" is incorrect.

Please forgive my being pernickety about this.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

So this would mean that the US tariff income would be lower. Does that not defy the reason for introducing the tariffs in the first place. (revenue will be a lot lower that expected or am I missing something)

You don;t get rich selling onesies to individual end purchasers. You want to sell packets of 500 to middlemen. Then tariffs are due. In any case, once the de minimus ends on May 2, even the onesies will be charged the tariff.