What has changed?
On 29 August 2025, President Trump signed an Executive Order ending the U.S. “de minimis” duty-free allowance for small imports. This allowance had been in place in various forms for over 30 years (most recently set at $800 since 2016).
What does this mean for you?
- All imports into the U.S. now face tariffs, duties, and customs charges – regardless of order value.
- Even if your order is under USD 800, it is no longer exempt.
- Customs may also impose delays while processing imports under the new rules.
Who is responsible for these charges?
You are. When you import goods into the United States, you are legally the importer.
- Tariffs, duties, and customs handling fees are your responsibility.
- These charges are not included in the price you pay us.
- We have no control over how much U.S. Customs will charge or how long clearance will take.
Can I return my order if I refuse to pay the duties?
No.
- Refusal to pay U.S. tariffs and duties does not qualify as a valid reason for return or refund.
- If a shipment is returned because you refused to pay duties, we will deduct all shipping costs (outbound and return), customs charges, and any handling fees from any potential refund.
- Original shipping costs are non-refundable.
What actually happens if I refuse to pay the duties?
Concretely, if you refuse to pay the duties, 90% of the time WE will be charged the duties you did not pay if the goods are returned to us. So it will depend on the duties being demanded by Customs :
- If they the duties are relatively light, we will request return of the products and you will be refunded whatever is left after deduction of shipping both ways, any customs charges and any extra processing fees by the carrier. Often, there is not much left to refund.
- If the duties are high, or exceed the actual value of the products, we will instruct US Customs to destroy the package. At that point there will be no duties charged, but you will have lost your order and no refund will be processed.
Can I dispute the duties?
Yes. If the duties look clearly higher than they should be, you can dispute them.
- In the U.S., this is done through a formal “protest” with Customs (CBP).
- The importer of record (you, the customer) must file it – we cannot do it on your behalf.
- Your first step is to contact the carrier that delivered your package (DHL, UPS, FedEx, USPS/partner). They will provide the entry number and instructions.
- A protest can challenge the HS code (most of our products are exported under HS Code heading 9506 as "sporting goods") , the valuation (Customs deciding your goods are worth more than your invoice), or the rate applied.
- It must be filed within 180 days of the duty assessment.
- Duties usually need to be paid first; if your protest succeeds, CBP refunds the overcharge.
- If you open a dispute, we are available to provide supporting documentation (invoices, product details, certificates of origin) if required.
Typical duty levels (for reference):
- Pakistan-made goods: usually 0–6 %
- EU-made goods: about 15 % of the invoice value.
- Ukraine-made goods: usually 0–6.5 %.
- China-made goods: much higher – typically 40–65 %, depending on product category.
Red flag thresholds:
It may be worth disputing the charge with CBP through your carrier if you are billed:
- More than about 20 % for EU goods,
- More than about 10 % for Ukraine or Pakistan goods, or
- More than about 70 % for China goods,
Practical advice: For small orders, the protest process can take months and may cost more in time and fees than the duties themselves. For larger orders with unusually high duties, disputing can make financial sense
Why are you telling me this so directly?
Because transparency matters. And because frankly, while I am generally apolitical, as a company owner who has spent over ten years working to supply HEMA practitioners in 47 countries (and counting), I oppose any policy that burns bridges rather than builds them. For over three decades (1994–2025), Americans benefited from duty-free thresholds under trade-friendly administrations. That era is now over. This is not a change made by us – it is the direct result of President Trump’s Executive Order.
What should you do before ordering?
- Check with your local U.S. Customs office or broker to understand how the new tariffs apply to your purchases.
- Be aware that every order you place will now attract tariffs and duties, regardless of size.
- Place your order only if you accept these conditions.