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Since Donald Trump became the President of the USA, he has placed several different tariffs on goods being shipped into the country. Some of these tariffs have been reversed - such as a brief ban on items shipped from China and Hong Kong - and others are here to stay for the foreseeable future.
But what does this mean for you or your business if you send parcels to the USA?
This depends on what you’re shipping and where the items were manufactured. But have peace of mind that many people shipping to the US from the UK will be completely unaffected by the recent changes to the US law.
What are Tariffs?
Tariffs are taxes charged on goods that have arrived from other countries.
So if the USA had a 10% tariff on books, that would mean that a $10 book would incur $1 of tax. So in order for your book to be released from US Customs, you’d have to pay $1 alongside any shipping fees.
Since Trump was inaugurated, he’s spoken a lot about new tariffs he may introduce. But let’s look at what’s actually changed for US imports.
What has Changed with US Import Tax?
Currently, most people will struggle to find many differences when shipping to the USA - but there are some upcoming policy changes that it’s helpful to be aware of.
As of 15th April 2025, your shipment to the USA will only be subject to tax and duties if:
- The value of the shipment (that’s the cost of the goods inside plus the cost of shipping) is over $800 (around £604).
- Your shipment doesn’t fall under sections 201, 232, or 301 tariffs - these include items such as steel, aluminium, and Chinese electronics.
As of 2nd May 2025:
All items manufactured in China and Hong Kong will be subject to tax and duties no matter what their value is. This will either be 30% of the total value or $25 per item - whichever is higher.
As of 1st June 2025:
All items manufactured in China and Hong Kong will be subject to 30% tax or $50 per item - whichever is higher.
If your items are not made in China or Hong Kong, you have nothing to worry about when it comes to shipping to the USA from the UK. Tax exemptions remain mostly the same and you can send a parcel to the US quickly and easily with Parcel2Go.
Find out more about shipping to the USA.
Paying Import Fees to the USA
If your shipment is subject to taxes and duties, your recipient will need to pay these additional fees in order for your parcel to be released from customs. If you’re selling items as part of a business or side hustle, it’s a good idea to let customers know in advance so they aren’t surprised by any additional costs. Remember, they’ll only need to pay these if your items fall into one of the above categories.
When booking a parcel, you’ll be given a tariff code, sometimes called a HS code or commodity code, which helps the customs department identify your items and see if you need to pay duties on them. We’ll provide this in the order journey based on your item description, alongside any commercial invoices and paperwork you need to send your parcel.
Certain items, such as food or alcohol, sometimes require additional paperwork. We explain all the documentation you need for shipping to the US in this handy guide.
The important thing to know is that once you book a delivery to the USA, we’ll send all the documentation you need via email.
Shipping Costs from UK to USA
Shipping to the USA from the UK starts from as little as £13.12 with Evri!
The cheapest way to ship to the USA is through Parcel2Go - choose from a broad range of reliable couriers. Our best international services to the USA include:
- UPS Access Point - £20.69
- Parcelforce - £21.10
- FedEx - £28.05
But you can compare even more couriers, including a range of services from drop off to collection, economy to express delivery, by getting a free instant quote.
