EDU · Customs · Shipping to USA
Shipping to the USA: customs rules, trade data & agreements
Prepare shipments entering the United States with current entry thresholds, quick customs facts, 2025 global trade statistics, all U.S. FTA partners, representative duty examples, and a clearance checklist.
Since August 29, 2025, goods at or below US$800 are no longer generally eligible for duty-free de minimis treatment. Appropriate entry, duties, taxes, and fees may apply.
Customs essentials · quick facts
Key numbers and systems at a glance.
Use this dashboard to frame the shipment, then verify the tariff line, origin, importer, and product controls before pickup.
- Duty-free de minimis
- None generally Global suspension effective August 29, 2025.
- Entry platform
- ACE Automated Commercial Environment.
- Federal import VAT
- None State and local sales or use tax may still apply.
- Customs authority
- CBP U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
- Tariff schedule
- HTSUS National tariff lines extend the HS.
- Currency
- USD Declare the transaction currency accurately.
- FTA network
- 14 agreements 20 partner countries in force.
- Importer
- U.S. importer of record Entry eligibility and bond needs depend on the shipment.
How clearance works
Resolve the details behind the numbers.
Entry and importer
Determine the importer of record, entry type, bond needs, and filing party before departure. Low value no longer removes the general entry requirement.
Classification and origin
Use the current HTSUS and declare actual origin. Review Section 301, antidumping, countervailing, and other special measures where relevant.
Partner agency controls
Food, drugs, devices, plants, animals, chemicals, communications equipment, and other goods can require another agency’s data, notice, licence, or approval.
Annual shipping & customs statistics · 2025
USA global merchandise trade in 2025
These official annual figures cover trade with the world, not only North American lanes. They provide market context and do not predict the duty or clearance time for a particular shipment.
Statistics use the latest complete annual reporting available when this guide was reviewed. Values may be revised by the publishing authority.
2025 North American import flows
What USA imported from its North American partners.
These directional values show merchandise entering USA from North American markets during 2025.
Canada→USA
US$381.9BDown 7.2% versus 2024
U.S. Census basis, nominal goodsView official 2025 sourceMexico→USA
US$534.3BUp 6.2% versus 2024
U.S. Census basis, nominal goodsView official 2025 sourceValues are reported by the importing country unless a card states otherwise. Partner-country figures can differ because of valuation, timing, transit trade, revisions, and country attribution.
Free trade agreements
USA agreement network and associated countries.
The United States currently has 14 free trade agreements with 20 countries in force. The list below groups partner countries under their agreement.
USMCA
Canada and Mexico
Official agreement sourceAustralia FTA
Australia
Official agreement sourceBahrain FTA
Bahrain
Official agreement sourceChile FTA
Chile
Official agreement sourceColombia TPA
Colombia
Official agreement sourceCAFTA-DR
Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua
Official agreement sourceIsrael FTA
Israel
Official agreement sourceJordan FTA
Jordan
Official agreement sourceKORUS
South Korea
Official agreement sourceMorocco FTA
Morocco
Official agreement sourceOman FTA
Oman
Official agreement sourcePanama TPA
Panama
Official agreement sourcePeru TPA
Peru
Official agreement sourceSingapore FTA
Singapore
Official agreement sourceBeing shipped from an agreement country does not prove origin. Confirm the product-specific origin rule, certification data, tariff treatment, and recordkeeping before making a claim.
Agreement directory reviewed August 2, 2026. Each agreement title links to its government landing page or official treaty text. Check the complete official agreement directory before relying on a preference.
Popular commodity examples
How duty and tax can change by product.
These are representative tariff-line examples for USA, not classification decisions or landed-cost quotes. Materials, construction, use, origin, quotas, trade remedies, and the final national tariff code can change the result.
| Commodity example | Representative HS | Ordinary duty signal | FTA possibility | Tax and control note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cotton knit T-shirt | 6109.10 | 16.5% representative general rate | Free may be available when USMCA or another FTA rule is met. | No federal import VAT. Textile origin and labelling rules matter. |
| Smartphone | 8517.13 | Free in the general tariff | FTA preference may still affect components or related products. | FCC and other product requirements may apply. |
| Motor-vehicle brake parts | 8708.30 | Often 2.5%, but the exact line varies | Free may be available under USMCA when the automotive origin rule is met. | Section 301 or trade remedies may alter landed cost. |
| Wooden bedroom furniture | 9403.50 | Many lines are free | FTA treatment depends on exact construction and origin. | Antidumping or countervailing orders can be decisive. |
| Roasted coffee, not decaffeinated | 0901.21 | Free in the general tariff | Preference is often unnecessary for base duty. | FDA prior notice and food admissibility rules can apply. |
The USA has no federal import VAT, but duty, merchandise processing fees, excise tax, and state or local tax can still apply. Verify the current official tariff.
Pre-shipment checklist
Build a clearance-ready file.
- Confirm exporter, importer of record, consignee, and broker or carrier roles.
- Classify every product and verify destination-specific tariff treatment.
- Establish customs value, currency, origin, and transaction terms.
- Check permits, licences, marking, labelling, and agency requirements.
- Prepare a detailed commercial invoice and any origin support.
- Send complete data before pickup and retain the final entry records.
Destination customs guides
Plan the next importing market.
Compare destination-specific thresholds, tax systems, tariff tools, annual trade data, and agreements connected to the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
Frequently asked questions
Practical customs answers.
Does a low shipment value guarantee release without charges?
No. Threshold treatment depends on the shipment facts, origin, channel, and exclusions. Carrier or broker fees are also separate from government duties and taxes.
Who is the importer of record?
The importer of record is the party responsible for the entry, supporting records, payment, and compliance. Confirm the party and its eligibility before tendering the shipment.
What is the difference between duty, tax, and brokerage?
Duty is tariff-based. Import tax is imposed under the destination tax system. Brokerage and disbursement charges are private service fees. One shipment can incur all three.
Do DDP and DAP determine the customs outcome?
They allocate commercial responsibilities between seller and buyer, but they do not override customs law. The declared importer, entry, valuation, and payment arrangements must still be valid.
Does an FTA apply because the shipment departs from a partner country?
No. The product must meet the agreement’s rule of origin and the importer must support the preference claim. Country of export and country of origin are different concepts.
Can samples, returns, or repairs enter duty free?
Sometimes, but special relief normally has conditions, documentation, value rules, and time limits. Marking an invoice as “sample” or “return” does not create an exemption by itself.
What replaced U.S. Section 321 duty-free de minimis?
Low-value goods generally require an appropriate entry and payment of applicable duties, taxes, and fees. The filing route depends on the shipment and transportation channel.
Does the former US$800 threshold still apply to ordinary imports?
No. General duty-free de minimis treatment was suspended globally on August 29, 2025. The shipment still needs the appropriate entry, data, and payment treatment for its channel.
When should a U.S. importer expect an entry bond?
Formal entries and some regulated or higher-risk transactions generally require a bond. The broker or filing party should confirm whether a single-transaction or continuous bond fits the importer’s activity.
Can Section 301 or trade-remedy duty apply on top of the general tariff?
Yes. Origin, classification, and scope determine whether Section 301, antidumping, countervailing, safeguard, or other additional duties apply. A base rate of free does not rule out an additional measure.
Reviewed August 2, 2026. This educational guide is general information, not legal, tax, classification, or customs-broker advice. Rules can change and shipment facts control the outcome.
Have a cross-border shipment to plan?
Share the origin, destination, goods, value, timing, and shipment mode. FreightXO can review the transportation requirement and help identify the right next step.