Trump Tariffs and You

Advisory Noticed from DHL and FedEx 

DHL

The following is from DHL who we use to pick up shipments in Venice and to deliver to us in the US. It paints a fairly clear picture of what is happening and why these tariffs will result in higher cost and higher prices. So even though you may have heard that the country or the supplier will "eat" the cost of tariffs, DHL has laid out exactly what is happening and where the burden of costs lie. These tariffs appear on our shipping invoice as a line item, making it patently clear the cost added to the shipment by these arbitrary tariffs.

We’re writing to inform you of significant changes to U.S. trade policy that impact your international shipments.

What are the new U.S. Tariffs?

The President Trump has imposed additional tariffs on imports from all countries. This is done under U.S. laws that provide broad authority to the president to take action in response to a national emergency, including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).

What does this mean for you?

1. Your shipments may be subject to additional import tariffs. Based on these presidential actions, the following additional tariffs apply:
• Effective April 5, 2025: A 10% IEEPA “reciprocal” tariff applies to shipments from all countries, with the following exceptions:
• Certain specific goods are exempted, such as donations; informational material; pharmaceuticals; semiconductors; computers; smartphones; or goods subject to additional tariffs under another law, i.e., Section 232.
  
  
• Products from Canada and Mexico are not subject to the IEEPA “reciprocal” tariffs. However, they are subject to the IEEPA “opioid” tariffs of 25% in effect from March 4, 2025 (increased for Canada to 35% from August 1, 2025), unless the products qualify for the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
  
  
• Effective August 6, 2025: Products made in Brazil are subject to an additional 40% duty (in addition to the existing 10% reciprocal tariff). Products in Annex I of the July 30 Executive Order are exempted from additional duty.
  
  
• Effective August 7, 2025: Over 60 countries listed are subject to higher IEEPA “Adjusted reciprocal tariffs” of up to 41%. Examples of this include Costa Rica and Ecuador (15%), Thailand (19%), and South Africa (30%). Countries that are not specifically listed will continue to be subject to a 10% IEEPA reciprocal tariff.
• For China, Hong Kong, and Macau, the Adjusted reciprocal tariff of 34% is suspended until August 12, 2025, thereby maintaining a 10% reciprocal tariff rate which applies in addition to all other applicable duties, such as the 20% IEEPA “opioid” tariff, Section 301 tariffs, and others.
  
  
2. Your shipments will require additional formalities. Under U.S. law, shipments valued up to $800 can be imported free of duties (De Minimis). However, the De Minimis treatment has been changed as follows:
• Effective May 2, 2025: Shipments containing products Made in China/Hong Kong are not eligible for the $800 De Minimis and are therefore subject to all applicable duties and require a customs entry.
  
  
• Effective August 29, 2025: The $800 De Minimis is effectively eliminated. This means that all shipments, regardless of their value or country of origin, will be subject to all applicable duties and require a customs entry. The following exceptions and specific treatments will apply:
• Duty-free treatment will remain in place for shipments valued up to $100 sent as bona fide gifts from an individual in a foreign country to another individual in the US ($200 in the case of articles sent as bona fide gifts from persons in the Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa).
  
  
• Shipments sent to the U.S. through the international postal network (Postal Services) will be subject to similar IEEPA reciprocal tariff rates during a period of six months. Thereafter will be required to follow the standard customs entry and duties as any other shipment.
  
  
3. To avoid delays, additional costs, or penalties, it is crucial that you provide complete and accurate commercial invoice data. Additional tariffs are applied based on the country of origin of the goods (where goods are manufactured or “Made in”), and not the country where the goods are shipped from. Therefore, you must ensure your shipment is supported with all relevant information, including a detailed goods description, to the extent possible, the Harmonized Tariff Classification Code (HTSUS), Country of Origin, and other pertinent information. This information shall ideally be provided when creating the shipment via the DHL Electronic Shipping solutions/integrations.

These changes materially affect your landed costs. 

We remain committed to helping you navigate these changes with clarity and confidence.