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Customs and tariff charges on importing antiques
According to a UK dealer, antiques are exempt from US tariff charges under the new section 301. Other sources confirm there are no customs duties on items over 100 years. However, multiple items I see for sale on eBay that claim antique status charge from 15% to 50% customs duties. My question is: Are there customs charges on importing antiques? If there are no charges, why are sellers applying them?
1 comment
eastlaneave
Mentor2 weeks ago@vsasau3
Interesting - I didn't realize the 301 tariffs exempted worn clothing; and certain antiques, collectibles, and art. So I did some research.
List with exemptions
https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/files/Press/Releases/2026/FLIP%20301%20Investigation%20Final%20Action%20FRN%207-23-26%20FINAL.pdf
Antiques must be 100+ years old (see page 242)
Worn (used ) clothing of any age (see page 205)
If the seller ships via USPS, tariffs must be collected in advance and prepaid by the seller. If items are shipped with UPS, Fedex or another courier, usually tariffs are not prepaid and are collected by the courier.
Sellers are just learning about the new rules, so I would give them time to figure out the new set of rules.
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Here is my standard reply to tariff questions, I need to rework with the exemption information, but I am providing it here for detail.
If your item was made in another country, they will be assessed tariffs when they arrive in USA.
You will be responsible for paying the tariff and any brokerage (tariff collection service) that is due. Sometimes you pay prior to delivery, sometimes you get a bill later.
I believe most tariffs are now 10-12.5%, but it is a volatile issue, and could change. Do a search on tariffs for the country where the item was manufactured, not where it is shipping from.
MORE INFO
The seller doesn't add or assess the duties/tariffs. Those are added by the US Government upon arrival.
Tariffs are a tax paid by buyers, tariffs aren't paid by sellers.
Tariffs are assessed by the country where the product is received, not the sending country, based on country where the product was manufactured.
There is no longer an $800 de minimis exemption on imported items which would exclude small purchases. That was removed as part of these 2 President Trump Executive Orders:
July 2025 https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/07/suspending-duty-free-de-minimis-treatment-fo...
and Feb 2026 https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/02/continuing-the-suspension-of-duty-free-de-mi...
Even though SCOTUS ended IEEPA tariffs on Feb 20, 2026, President Trump has added other new tariffs as follows:
- President Trump imposed new tariffs (10%) under Section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act in Feb 2026. https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/02/imposing-a-temporary-import-surcharge-to-add...
When these (Sec 122) tariffs expired after 150 days, President Trump imposed new tariffs (10%-12.5%) under Section 301 of the 1974 Trade Act. https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/28/trump-usmca-canada-mexico-trade-deal.html
So, there are still tariffs on everything imported to USA, unless on the exemption list provided above.
Buyers pay a tariff, and the brokerage to collect the tariff. DHL, UPS and Fed Ex assess brokerage fees because they prepay the tariff at the dock and collect the tariff from the end buyer.
See https://pages.ebay.com/tariffs/
and https://www.ebay.com/help/buying/-/-/international-purchases-shipping?id=4057#section2
It's a bad time to buy products overseas, unfortunately
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