US import tarrifs.

[old-car-magazines-and-brochures]

The new US import tariffs come into force on 29th August but I can't get my head around why I, as the seller, am responsible for paying the duties before the item is posted. For other international orders ebay collect any duties at the point of sale bit for the US it seems that the seller is responsible. Or have i misunderstood?

I sold a magazine for £5.99 today to buyer from the US. By the time it arrives, it will be after the 29th and subject to the new import tariff. Should I cancel the order and exclude sales to the US?

[cobwebcottage]

No, I don't think that's right.

Have you read the Ebay guidance?

US Tariffs | UK Seller Centre

The FAQ at the bottom states '

'If buyers do not pay tariffs, associated fees, or provide the required information to carriers, they generally won’t receive their item from the carrier. The carrier’s policies will decide what then happens to the item.

eBay Money Back Guarantee will not apply in this case.'

I just think we wont get any sales from the US anymore.

[the_book_seekers]

I think there's a lot of confusion around this at the moment. Royal Mail and DHL have suspended some services to the US until it's clear how the tarrifs will be collected.

[eyewear247]

If you post via Royal Mail they will be collecting the import duty at the applicable tariff and charge us, the seller for that.  eBay collect the VAT/ Tax. 

Import duty and VAT are two separate charges.

[beddaustamps · Accepted solution]

eBay wouldn't know what the duties are, so the onus is on the seller to pay them.  (e.g. If a UK magazine, then it's 10%, European 15%, Chinese 55% - essentially every single item you sell would have to have a country of origin in Item Specifics linked to Trump's real-time spin-the-wheel tarriff guestimator). (We sell stamps, so if a US buyer bought 10 different stamps from 10 different countries, there might be 10 different tariff levels to apply). If ebay can't figure out it's a Bank Holiday today, then there's fat chance of them being able to calculate the tariffs.

So, Royal Mail is introducing a new system this week for us sellers to declare each item and it's tariff, so we can pay the tariffs up front PLUS their "brand new sparkling handling fees". US Customs might not accept the packet unless they have proof that the tariffs have been paid, along with all the usual Sales and state taxes. If they don't have the paperwork (e.g. Country of Origin and Value), then they will either send it back or charge the buyer $100 to $200 to deliver it. Royal Mail don't want the cost of sending and returning millions of parcels, so it looks like the USA PDDP (postal delivery duties paid) service will be compulsory.

eBay Concierge advised me to stop selling to the USA from this week (and wait to see how it all pans out). Apparently, eBay.com are now advising US buyers not to buy from outside the USA in any case.

[old-car-magazines-and-brochures]

Thanks for your replies. I think I will suspend US sales until there is a bit more clarity around the situation and wait and see other people's experiences are. More lost revenue then...

[billythecardy]

It's not like they didn't know this was coming. Here we are left floundering around as usual.

I think I'll turn off US sales temporarily until I see what's happening.

But it sounds like I'll have to slap an extra charge onto US sales to cover whatever tariffs and fees the Royal Mail come up with. 

I refuse to be bullied into using GSP though. 

[bzmotman]

Royal Mail are supposed to be launching US Postal Delivered Duties Paid scheme on Thursday. Should give clarity as to the rip off charges/tariffs, sorry totally justified fees, that will be payable.

Wont affect me as I stopped selling to USA some time ago & thats the way its staying.

[eyewear247]

I would be very interested to find out if we would , and if so how we would be refunded for the now seller paid import duties in event of any returns/ refunds.

That's assuming I would still make sales in the US after increasing my prices to cover the extra costs.

Up until I ended shipping to the US on Friday I have always made good sales to the US so it's going to be a bit hit for me but a much bigger hit for eBay I am sure.

[billythecardy]

And just to add to all the confusion it seems that books and "informational material" are exempt from the tariffs. Here's the full list of exempt items -

https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Annex-II.pdf

This might make dealing with Royal Mail interesting.

[montonbt1]

This is going to be a disaster. There is no way i am (or even can) absorb these tariffs + handling costs into my current margin. If ebay cannot add 30% onto the item price for every item sold to the US so we can cover the any tariffs that might be applied then sending to the US will be unviable and i will have to turn it off. Americas tariffs are Americas problem, not ours.

[davetheshoe]

Not worth the hassle of posting to USA anymore after this. Now added USA to countries

I don't post to like Iraq'Yemen Russian Federation,Ukraine .................