U.S. Import & Tariff Policy: 2026 Update (Important Notice for U.S. Customers)

mikster
13 hours ago
4 min read

What This Means for U.S. Orders

As of August 2025, the United States ended the long-standing $800 duty-free (de minimis) import exemption.

All commercial shipments from Japan to the U.S. are now subject to:

Import duties determined by U.S. Customs
Formal customs clearance
Carrier processing fees

This applies regardless of order value.

Why Are We Using DHL or FedEx?

Due to the new customs clearance requirements, Japan Post has suspended commercial parcel shipping service to the United States.

Currently, DHL and FedEx are the only available carriers in Japan able to process U.S. imports under the new regulations.

What Fees Should I Expect?

Shipping Fee (paid at checkout)
Covers priority express international transport from Japan.
Import Duty (billed by the carrier)
Determined by U.S. Customs.
Carrier Processing Fee (billed by DHL/FedEx)
Charged for customs clearance handling.

We do not control or receive customs duties or carrier processing fees.

Why Are Shipping Costs Higher?

Without the former duty-free threshold (Di Minimus), every shipment now requires formal customs processing. Carriers have adjusted their rates to account for increased clearance workload.

Before You Place an Order

Please ensure you understand that:

Duties and processing fees are the responsibility of the recipient.
These charges are determined by U.S. Customs and the carrier.
We cannot waive or reimburse import fees.

If you have questions, please contact us before placing your order.

How Much Tariff Should I Expect?

Estimated U.S. Import Duties

Import duties are determined by U.S. Customs based on:

Product category (HS code)
Declared value
Current tariff rates

For most craft supplies and goods, recent shipments have shown:

Estimated duty range: 10–20% of declared value (average 15%)
Plus carrier processing / clearance fee (varies by carrier, roughly $17-$22)

Please note:

Rates may change without notice.
We cannot predict the exact duty amount before shipment.
U.S. Customs makes the final determination.

We hope to gather more data from US customers overtime to demystify this rate calculation further as information is only visible and communicated to Importers by carriers.

If Duties Are Refused or Unpaid

If the recipient refuses to pay import duties or carrier processing fees:

The parcel will be returned to Japan.
Return shipping fees will be charged by the carrier.
Original outbound shipping fees are non-refundable.
Any additional carrier or administrative fees incurred will be deducted from the refund.

Refunds (if applicable) will be processed after the parcel is safely returned to us.

*** We cannot cancel or intercept shipments once customs clearance has begun. ***

Please read our Store Policy.

Shipping Rates to U.S.

We have set all new shipping cost for US to reflect this new logistics condition and shipping rate is being updated monthly as fuel surcharge changes.

Due to current U.S. import regulations, shipments are handled by DHL or FedEx only.

*** Estimated shipping ranges:***

Flat FedEx envelope (under 500g / 1 lb) For small, non-liquid, non-fragile items (e.g. socks, brushes, spatulas, cloth).
Approx. $28
Box shipments
Based on box volume size and weight. Starting from $40 - 42 and up.
Remote area surcharge may apply if address is outside of carrier's delivery regions (approx. $23).

Shipping rates are calculated based on carrier pricing and may vary by destination.

If you are unsure about shipping cost, please email us before placing your order. We can provide a manual estimate.

What Happens After Shipment?

You will receive a tracking number.
The carrier submits the parcel to U.S. Customs for review.
U.S. Customs determines applicable import duty.
DHL or FedEx will issue an invoice for duty and processing fees.
After payment is received, the parcel is released for delivery.

If an item is determined duty-free, no action is required.

Customs clearance may add 1–2 business days to delivery time.

Important

If import duties are not paid by the due date, the parcel will be returned to Japan.

Outbound and return shipping fees are non-refundable.
Any applicable bank or payment processing fees may be deducted from refunds.
Please refer to our Store Policy for full details.

We recommend monitoring your tracking and carrier notifications closely.

If the carrier requests additional documentation, you may include us in the communication and we will assist where possible.

What We Are Offering

We continue to ship to the U.S., while many small sellers have suspended service.
We offer a $15 tariff support discount to help offset part of the additional cost.
How to enjoy $15 off orders of $100: Enter code TARIFFRELIEF at check-out.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you mark the package as a gift or lower the value?

No. We declare the accurate commercial value (in Japanese yen) in compliance with international law.

Can you prepay the duty for me?

Currently, we ship under Delivered-at-Place (DAP). Duties are paid by the recipient. However, we are exploring Pre-paid Duty option on small orders or low-cost items. We will post update.

Can you guarantee the exact duty amount?

No. U.S. Customs determines the final amount.

NOTE OF CAUTION: Also be aware of phishing and scam emails posing as DHL or FedEx attempting to collect money from you. Do not click the links in suspicious emails or text messages. Always match your name and tracking number in the notifications. It is also more secure if you access DHL or FedEx websites directly and use your tracking number to check status.

Note: We also read that the U.S. is changing the Import Duty threshold on how much a traveler can carry into the U.S. from abroad. So if you are planning to travel in Japan and bring back goods, please check your local government Customs and Border page for the latest updates.