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What are My Options for Shipments Subjected to Duties and Tariffs?

For all U.S. bound shipment you must use our Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) options. 

Delivered Duty Paid (DDP)

DDP options are our USPS based postage options (Chit Chats U.S. Edge, USPS Priority Mail, etc) and Chit Chats International Tracked (U.S. Bound). To see this postage option you MUST provide:  

If you see an error in the tracking events, Invalid HTS Code Detected - please check to ensure that is valid and accurate on the US official site. 

Entering unknown for manufacturer information will cause delays with your shipments. 
If you don't know it or unable to provide you cannot ship with DDP postage (USPS options).

Tip: If you require assistance in finding valid HTS codes, consider using the user-friendly Chit Chats HTS Lookup Tool and cross reference with the official U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule website. 

Important: For products with a Country of Origin being China or its special regions, each Chinese origin product line (distinct HTS code) within a shipment can only have a maximum value of $250 USD. If the value exceeds $250, you will be unable to ship the product with Chit Chats. This restriction applies to all U.S. bound services. 

While we are experts in shipping logistics and providing solutions to get your goods into the U.S., we are not licensed customs professionals and do not specialize in tariff classifications or trade compliance matters.
For questions specifically related to HTS codes, country of origin, CUSMA regulations, we strongly recommend consulting a licensed customs broker or trade compliance expert. That said, we’re always here to help guide you through the process and connect you with trusted resources when needed. Our goal is to make your cross-border shipping experience as smooth and efficient as possible.

How are Duties & Tariffs Calculated?

Duties and tariff fees are calculated by the duty rate indicated in the official U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule website, the sold value of the goods, and the Country of Origin. This is why it is extremely important to include a valid HTS code at all times.

Depending on the product's HTS code, an additional tariff for products from China may apply. These can be identified by hovering over the '1/' in the HTS schedule and looking up the HTS code provided in the tool tip, as pictured below: 

These additional tariffs are considered 'Section 301 Tariffs' and can rage from 7.5% to 25%, depending on the HTS code. More information can be found on the Office of the United States Trade representative website. 

Shipments classified as informational materials are exempt from reciprocal tariffs, regardless of origin or CUSMA certification. For details, see the CBP FAQ definition of informational materials here.

It is important to take note that our platform does not import discounted rates from connected stores, with the exception of Shopify and Etsy. This is something that we are currently working on implementing for the other stores; in the meantime, please ensure that the values for your imported shipments are correct. Lastly, always include an invoice as documentation for U.S. customs.

What is a Section 232 Steel, Aluminum, or Copper Tariff?

Steel and aluminum tariffs based on Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 (Section 232) will apply to the steel and aluminum content of products under certain HTS codes. 


Some items are assessed the duty provided in the applicable subheading + 50%, but are exempt from reciprocal tariffs. 


Other items are assessed the duty provided in the applicable subheading + a duty of 50% upon the value of the steel, aluminum or copper content. The non-steel, non-aluminum or non-copper content will remain subject to the reciprocal and other applicable tariffs.


How can I tell the percentage of metal in my product?

You can request this information from your manufacturer. If this information is not available from the manufacturer, comparable information for similar goods on the market can be used to determine the metal content of your product. It’s your responsibility to provide as accurate information as possible when making shipment declarations.


Failure to disclose the metal content in your products may result in a flat 50% tariff applied to your shipment item(s).


What if there’s no metal in my product?

Some items that require the steel, aluminum or copper content to be declared contain little or no metal. If there is no metal in the composition of your product, you would declare 0%.


How can I declare the content of metal in my product?

If you are creating shipments on the Chit Chats platform, if an applicable HTS Code is entered, a field for the additional information will appear (per screenshot below.) 

If you import via Chit Chats CSV, or via Store Integration, it’s recommended that you create shipment item presets to capture this information.


How do I know if my product is subject to Section 232 Tariffs?

At the time of publication, HTS codes subject to Section 232 tariffs are outlined in the HTSUS Subchapter Notes for Chapter 99. A condensed version of this information can be found here.


Common items:

  • Nails, screws, nuts, bolts

  • Cookware and tableware

  • Sewing needles and springs

  • Staples

  • Sports equipment (skis, tennis rackets, baseball bats, etc.)

  • Electronic and mechanical parts (computer components, etc.)


How do I know how much I’m being charged?

At this time all Tariffs and Duties are shown as a general ‘Tariff Fee’ on the Chit Chats platform, while brokerage fees are separate. For more information about fees, please see below.


Is my item’s packaging subject to this tariff?

If your product is packaged in a metal container, the packaging itself may also be subject to tariffs. In such cases, the product must be declared as containing at least 50% metal, depending on the actual composition of the contents.


For example, if a map is packaged in an aluminum tube, the product must be declared as containing 50% aluminum.


Fees

You will see different fees associated with DDP postage:

  • Tariff

    • Combination of the general rate of duty and any applicable ad valorem tariffs

    • An item could be duty-free but blanket tariffs may still apply. 

  • Customs Processing 

    • Flat fee per shipment, covering administrative costs for informal entry into the U.S. It is a flat fee per shipment (1.35 USD flat fee).

    • Fee is applied regardless of CUSMA eligibility, as all shipments are presented to Customs. 

  • Broker Line Item

    • Fee for our broker to process the individual line items in the shipment (0.15 USD/line item). Example: You ship 1 tshirt, 2 mugs and 3 pens = 3 shipment items

Chit Chats International Tracked to the U.S. has only tariff fees; the other two fees do not apply.

While we strive to provide the most accurate tariff estimates possible, these fees are determined by the U.S. administration and our customs broker; therefore, they may change without notice. As such, all tariff calculations are estimates only.

Example: For products that may be subject to Steel or Aluminum Tariffs (e.g., shampoo), we may declare a 0% tariff. However, some HTS codes that qualify for this value-based tariff may be assessed at a flat 50% tariff, per CBP’s guidance on reporting Aluminum and Steel.


If our broker determines that your products are subject to fees and were charged at 0%, the applicable charges will be applied as a postage adjustment.

If an adjustment is required—whether due to an overestimate or underestimate—it will be automatically applied to your account and reflected in the Transactions section as either a refund or an additional charge, similarly to a postage adjustment.