Tariffs

Question

I’m in U.S. purchasing from a seller in Hong Kong, but shipped-from location is not stated. I do not see any notices about tariffs being charged now or later in my order details. How do I know if there is a tariff? I’ve already paid for my order, 20 mins ago.

eastlaneave · Answer

@penelope333

If your item ships from outside the USA, and was made in a country other than USA, there will be a tariff.

Look carefully at the listing again. The Item Location is where it ships from.

Example

Shipping:
US $13.43 USPS Priority Mail®. See details for shipping
Located in: Atwater, California, United States

or

Shipping:
Free eBay SpeedPAK Standard. See detailsfor shipping
Located in: Shanghai, China

(The Seller's personal location is on their feedback page, not the listing page.)

More information

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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% but it is a volatile issue, and could change. Do a search on tariff for the country where the book 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. That was removed as part of this Executive Order: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/07/suspending-duty-free-de-minimis-treatment-fo...

Even though SCOTUS ended IEEPA tariffs, the de minimis exemption isn't restored to $800 since President Trump signed a new Executive Order https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/02/continuing-the-suspension-of-duty-free-de-mi...

And, President Trump imposed new tariffs (10%) under Section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act. https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/02/imposing-a-temporary-import-surcharge-to-add...

So, there are still tariffs on everything imported to USA.

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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Listings display this:

International shipping - items may be subject to customs processing depending on the item's customs value.

Sellers declare the item's customs value and must comply with customs declaration laws.

As the buyer, you should be aware of possible:

• Delays from customs inspection.

• Import duties and taxes which buyers must pay.

• Brokerage fees payable at the point of delivery.

Your country's customs office can offer more details, or visit eBay's page on international trade.

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