US import duty and customs fees on goods from China
Every Chinese shipment to the US now needs a customs entry — the $800 de minimis exemption is gone for both courier and post. On top of the ordinary MFN rate, China carries a 12.5% Section 301 duty.
China is in the 12.5% band. It is also the one origin where a second, older Section 301 action stacks on top, so a Chinese parcel can carry both.
| Product type | MFN rate | Section 301 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silver jewelry | 5%–13.5% | 12.5% | 17.5%–26% |
| Imitation jewelry | 0%–11% | 12.5% | 12.5%–23.5% |
| Silk sarees & silk fabric | 0%–3.9% | 12.5% | 12.5%–16.4% |
| Cotton apparel | 0%–32% | 12.5% | 12.5%–44.5% |
| Silk apparel & blouses | 3.5%–26.9% | 12.5% | 16%–39.4% |
| Bags, cases & pouches | 0%–20% | 12.5% | 12.5%–32.5% |
| Leather goods & accessories | 0%–14% | 12.5% | 12.5%–26.5% |
| Rugs & floor coverings | 0%–8% | 12.5% | 12.5%–20.5% |
| Ceramics & pottery | 0.7%–28% | 12.5% | 13.2%–40.5% |
| Wooden decor & carvings | 0%–4.3% | 12.5% | 12.5%–16.8% |
| Brass & metal decor | 0%–5.8% | 12.5% | 12.5%–18.3% |
| Candles | 0% | 12.5% | 12.5% |
| Soap & cosmetics | 0%–4% | 12.5% | 12.5%–16.5% |
| Toys & games | 0% | 12.5% | 12.5% |
| Books | 0% | 12.5% | 12.5% |
| Art prints & posters | 0% | 12.5% | 12.5% |
| Stationery & paper goods | 0% | 12.5% | 12.5% |
| Musical instruments | 0%–8.7% | 12.5% | 12.5%–21.2% |
| Packaged spices | 0%–4.8% | 12.5% | 12.5%–17.3% |
Ranges span every subheading in the HTS heading. Your exact rate depends on your 10-digit classification — open a row to see the reasoning and the sources.
Customs fees on a parcel from China
| Parcel value | Courier / express (DHL, FedEx, UPS, Aramex) | Postal (India Post, Royal Mail, Canada Post, national post) |
|---|---|---|
| $100.00 | Entry Type 11 informal entry $4.15 in CBP fees, plus the carrier brokerage fee | Postal informal entry (19 CFR 145.12(b)) $0.00 in CBP fees, plus the postal handling / filing charge |
| $800.00 | Entry Type 11 informal entry $4.15 in CBP fees, plus the carrier brokerage fee | Postal informal entry (19 CFR 145.12(b)) $0.00 in CBP fees, plus the postal handling / filing charge |
| $3,000.00 | Formal entry $34.58 in CBP fees, plus the carrier brokerage fee | Formal entry $0.00 in CBP fees, plus the postal handling / filing charge |
There is no value floor any more: a $100 parcel needs a customs entry just like a $3,000 one. Duty comes on top, at the rates in the table above. Post shows $0 because mail is exempt from CBP's processing fee; a formally entered EMS parcel, such as international Speed Post, is the exception. We do not quote carrier or postal charges because none are published that we can verify. From 22 October 2026, post moves to formal mail entry or the Entry Type 13 test for goods from China: what changes.
Get told when these rules change
US import rules for small sellers changed three times in 2026 — February, June and July. When the next one lands, you get one plain-English email. No schedule, no filler; some months there is nothing to send.