Starting May 2025, the U.S. administration has implemented tariffs for shipments originating from China and any of its special administrative regions (Hong Kong & Macau). These items are no longer eligible for entry under Section 321, de minimis. In short, all shipments entering the U.S. regardless of Country of Origin must have duties paid if applicable. 


THIS ARTICLE COVERS:

What are My Options for Shipments Subjected to Tariffs?

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


Delivery Duty Paid (DDP)

DDP options, which are our USPS based postage options (Chit Chats U.S. Edge, USPS Priority Mail, etc). Your tariffed shipment will not see these postage options unless the following information is included:


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. 

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 Tariffs Calculated?

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.


It is important to take note that our platform does not import discounted rates from connected stores, with the exception of Shopify. 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.


Tariff, Merchandise Processing, and Shipment Items Fees

You will see different fees associated with DDP postage:

  • Tariff Fee

    • Combination of the general rate of duty and any applicable ‘ad valorem’ tariffs (Trump’s “reciprocal” tariffs)

  • Merchandise Processing Fee

    • Calculated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and may change at their discretion. It is a flat fee per shipment (1.35 USD flat fee).

  • Shipment Items Fee

    • Individual item processing fee for broker to process the individual HTS coded items in the shipment (0.15 USD / line item)

    • Example: You are shipping 1 tshirt, 2 mugs and 3 pins = 3 shipment item

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.

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.