Once again, import fees for USA buyers of Japanese equipment post August 29, 2025

[Alan Edward Klein]

Actually, most overseas dealers are refusing to sell to US buyers except on ebay, etc

Too much work…

This came up in another thread. I found at least half a dozen American firms that handle import duties and tariffs for foreign sellers, for a fee of course. They don't take a percentage of the sale cost as eBay does, I don;t believe. Only a handling fee for the shipping and duties. It would be foolish for foreign exporters to abandon the US market if they're selling anything significant to America. Smart companies like B&H handle these VAT and other duty fees applied by countries throughout the world when they ship to them. Once they set it up, a program handles the charges automatically on their bills just as US state sales taxes in the 50 states are applied. Foreign companies could do the same thing.

 

[loccdor]

I used ChatGPT to check the total cost of importing a Leicaflex SL from Austria to the U.S.:

provided there is no special surcharge (e.g. under special trade programmes or country-of-origin restrictions).​

Anything on the Harmonized Tariff Schedule is in addition to the country-wide tariff rate. I found this out through trial and error.

 

[MattKing]

And it is the country-wide tariff that is the subject of most of the flux.
And the reason that many small exporters are pausing shipments to the USA - they know that customers who are hit with last minute, surprise bills often direct their anger to the original supplier.

 

[GregY]

And it is the country-wide tariff that is the subject of most of the flux.
And the reason that many small exporters are pausing shipments to the USA - they know that customers who are hit with last minute, surprise bills often direct their anger to the original supplier.

....rather than their own government that imposed the tariffs....

 

[loccdor]

All the Japanese eBayers I bought from who did not have "duties are included" on the listing made me confirm via message that I was ok with paying additional duties before they went forward with the sale. A wise thing to do regarding expensive international shipments on a site which has return policies that favor the buyer.

I was very satisfied with my last Japanese purchase, thanks for the indirect reminder to leave positive feedback.