US import duty and customs fees on goods from Japan
Every Japanese 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, Japan carries a 12.5% Section 301 duty, applied as a cap rather than a surcharge: goods whose ordinary MFN rate is below 12.5% are topped up to 12.5%, and goods already at or above it pay nothing extra.
Japan is capped rather than stacked, under its Agreement on Reciprocal Trade. Where the MFN rate is below 12.5%, the Section 301 duty tops the total up to exactly 12.5%; where MFN is already 12.5% or more, the Section 301 duty is zero. So the total never exceeds 12.5% on this account — do not add 12.5% to the MFN rate.
| Product type | MFN rate | Section 301 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silver jewelry | 5%–13.5% | 0%–7.5% | 12.5%–13.5% |
| Imitation jewelry | 0%–11% | 1.5%–12.5% | 12.5% |
| Silk sarees & silk fabric | 0%–3.9% | 8.6%–12.5% | 12.5% |
| Cotton apparel | 0%–32% | 0%–12.5% | 12.5%–32% |
| Silk apparel & blouses | 3.5%–26.9% | 0%–9% | 12.5%–26.9% |
| Bags, cases & pouches | 0%–20% | 0%–12.5% | 12.5%–20% |
| Leather goods & accessories | 0%–14% | 0%–12.5% | 12.5%–14% |
| Rugs & floor coverings | 0%–8% | 4.5%–12.5% | 12.5% |
| Ceramics & pottery | 0.7%–28% | 0%–11.8% | 12.5%–28% |
| Wooden decor & carvings | 0%–4.3% | 8.2%–12.5% | 12.5% |
| Brass & metal decor | 0%–5.8% | 6.7%–12.5% | 12.5% |
| Candles | 0% | 12.5% | 12.5% |
| Soap & cosmetics | 0%–4% | 8.5%–12.5% | 12.5% |
| 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% | 3.8%–12.5% | 12.5% |
| Packaged spices | 0%–4.8% | 7.7%–12.5% | 12.5% |
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 Japan
| 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 Japan: 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.