The SteelNavy.Com Message Board: Re: No tariffs on small packets

Would love your source for this claim, Bill. I have sources which make it the transportation carriers' responsibility to collect and remit payment to CBP. Said transportation carriers then collect it in their shipping charges, which sellers pay, so they will be passing it on to the buyer, either in their cost of goods, or their shipping charges. I have previously been erroneously claiming the transportation carriers had to remit payment when they brought in the shipment. Re-reading, they remit it all monthly to CBP.

This is only on formerly deminimis-eligible mailed items from China, which has been in effect since May 2. On August 29th, the same arrangement for formerly de minimis-elligible mailed items goes into effect on all countries, and the rates generally go up. I have no idea on other methods. I have been doing some reading, but concentrating on mailed items, since that is how I (and I think most of us) get our stuff. It is complex, and other methods have other rules.

Executive order 14256, Section 2c:

"(c) Duty Rates. Transportation carriers delivering shipments to the United States from the PRC or Hong Kong sent through the international postal network must collect and remit duties to CBP under the approach outlined in either subsection (c)(i) or subsection (c)(ii) of this section. Transportation carriers must apply the same duty collection methodology to all shipments; however, transportation carriers may change their collection methodology once a month or on such other periodic timeframe as CBP determines appropriate, upon providing 24-hour notice to CBP.

(i) Ad Valorem Duty. 30 percent of the value of the postal item containing goods for merchandise entered for consumption on or after 12:01 am eastern daylight time on May 2, 2025.

(ii) Specific Duty. 25 dollars per postal item containing goods for merchandise entered for consumption on or after 12:01 am eastern daylight time on May 2, 2025, and before 12:01 am eastern daylight time on June 1, 2025, and 50 dollars per postal item containing goods for merchandise entered for consumption on or after 12:01 am eastern daylight time on June 1, 2025."

This is what is currently in effect against China, from May 2nd until August 29th when it will be superseded.

https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/executive-order-14256-further-amendment-duties-addressing-the-synthetic-opioid-supply

Where does your claim come from, please?

Previous Message

There is no tariff on small packet /package mail coming from anywhere in the world. There is no mechanism for the USPS to collect it nor does US Customs and Border Patrol have a mechanism to collect it from the millions of pieces passing through the custom warehouses on its way to US mail distribution centers. That does not mean CBP does not check packages for dangerous contraband it means they can’t collect tariff on all else.

For those of you who paid double the price in shipping to Chinese dealers on E-Bay claiming they were paying the tariff on your model or small packet you got robbed. Sellers do not pay tariffs. There is no mechanism for world wide sellers to pay tariffs. The buyer pays tariffs through customs brokerage. Steven’s International will pay a tariff which will be passed onto your local hobby shop in an increase in retail price. As for E-Bay at some point they may have the mechanism to collect tariff and forward it onto CBP. The easy part is collecting the tariff . The hard part is alerting CBP to release your small packet from the thousands of packages that are being held in their custom warehouses. Good luck with that. When Congress appropriates the funds for the mechanisms then start sky screaming.

Hobby Easy is attempting to become an EV seller. Since Hong Kong Post will not ship to the US in protest all may come through Canada . Again no tariff for there is no mechanism to collect it.

My major purchases of 3D parts go through Hobby Easy and never had a problem. My last order came through Canada with no issues. but that was a test purchase between I and Hobbyeasy. Hobby Easy will have to set shipping policy for US buyers.

I buy from E-Bay sellers . They won’t combine shipping and they won’t mix different items in same package. I stay with same vendors in my E-Bay favorite sellers list. Yet to have a problem. If something comes in crunched they replace it rather quickly so I don’t complain about combined shipping.

Previous Message

On August 2nd, I ordered EV Model 1/700 set P100, upgrades for Arleigh Burke destroyers, from an ebay dealer in China. This is a product made in China, and shipped from there. Since May 2nd, items from China have not had de minimis. So, I assume I paid customs and other fees, but I honestly can't tell you details of how. It went very smoothly.

I wanted this set badly enough to take chances by ordering. Price was good...only $25.99. Shipping was listed as $10.00. The listing indicated I should get the shipment by/before August 27th, which is two days before all de minimis ends, and if I am not mistaken, rates also go up. The listing promised me I would not be charged any other fees after checkout. At checkout, my state added their sales tax. Otherwise it was just the item price and shipping that it totaled out to. "The adventure begins," I told myself, and waited to see how this all worked.

Sometimes, though listed as "in stock," these sellers actually have to order it printed. This looked to actually be in stock since it shipped two days later, on August 4th. It shipped by ebay's SpeedPak through Orange Connex.

Tracking showed "Export Customs Declaration Completed People's Republic of China" on August 7th. It showed "Import Customs Clearance Completed United States of America" on August 10th. Yet, it next showed "Departed from Origin Country People's Republic of China" and "Arrived at destination country United States of America" both on August 11th, the first at 6:02 & the second at 11:07.

From an advanced tracking site I use, I had learned it would be assigned another tracking number for the US. The last ebay item I got from China--in February this year--went by SpeedPak, then transfered to the USPS for the last-mile delivery in the US. This shipment was handed over to UniUni, whom I find are a Canadian shipping service. Tracking from that company then showed "Gateway transit in," "Arrived at regional sorting center," and "Gateway transit out" all in the NY City/New Jersey area, on August 14th. It showed up in my state yesterday early in the morning, and was then out for delivery shortly after, then delivered yesterday evening.

I never heard a thing about customs except the tracking entries, nor was I charged anything further after checkout. I can not tell from the amounts I paid which fee included the customs duty, but I certainly presume I paid it. I strongly believe, though I have no exact proof, that a customs broker was involved in the process. That or the ebay seller knows his customs procedures pretty well. I think Orange Connex provided brokerage, though. That seems most likely.

It went seamlessly, and I found the charges all reasonable (under the rates currently in effect for China until the 29th.)

Make whatever you will from this. Just passing it along.