Sales to USA after August 29th - Tariffs / End of de minimis

[wellingnorth]

I asked about this in the weekly chat, specifically whether ebay are alerting US buyers to the fact that they will shortly have to pay duty on anything delivered from outside the US and marco@ebay helpfully later posted this link showing that there is messaging to increase awareness of this:

https://pages.ebay.com/tariffs/

Then I also stumbled across this link:

https://community.ebay.co.uk/t5/Announcements/Navigating-New-US-Tariffs-Support-and-Solutions-for-UK...

From this it sounds potentially like we may have to add a 'country of origin' to listings for them to be visible to US buyers at all?

"Add “Country/Region of Manufacture” (country of origin) to your listings: To reach US customers, you’ll need to Include the “Country/Region of Manufacture” (country of origin) in your listing aspects. This information helps US buyers anticipate potential duties and make informed purchasing decisions."

It specifies the same thing for items sent through GSP.

[style_wise]

Yes, you are correct. It may not be just for selling to the USA that you need this. Many Sellers have reported having their Global Shipping Program shown as not available to countries they normally send to. One workaround by Sellers to make their items show as available is to add Country of Origin.

[*vyolla*]

It will be interesting to see what the tariffs are going to be:

For six months, a temporary flat tariff (ranging from $80 to $200, depending on the item's origin) may apply to postal shipments.

I can't see anyone in the US buying a t-shirt after 29th August.

[wellingnorth]

Bit vague isn't it, 'may apply'

Obviously most likely a bit of disaster for sales to the US but interested to see how it works in practise. 

In principle I suppose items made in the USA would not have a tariff payable at all. 

[*vyolla*]

I wonder how that would work for a Gildan t-shirt with a made in the USA label in it, but that has been printed on in the UK?

[wellingnorth]

Yes, I think that's a tricky issue, clothes may be marked made in China of USA fabric, etc.

Today an emailed arrived 'Prepare for new US import rules' which is again slightly ambiguous aboue the need for country of origin for the item to show, but does advise adding it:

"What you can do now

Enhance your listings: Include the “Country/Region of Manufacture” (country of origin) in your listing aspects. This information helps US buyers anticipate potential duties and make informed purchasing decisions. Learn more about how to find “Country/Region of Manufacture” (country of origin) information"

There's an 'update listings now' button in the email but it just takes you to your 'active listings' page and as far as I can see there's no way of displaying country of origin on that page or filtering to show items without it set -  you'd have to go through the listings one by one to check (same on the bulk listings editor page)

[4_bathrooms]

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@*vyolla* wrote:

It will be interesting to see what the tariffs are going to be:

For six months, a temporary flat tariff (ranging from $80 to $200, depending on the item's origin) may apply to postal shipments.

I can't see anyone in the US buying a t-shirt after 29th August.

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That applies to items sent via the international postal system. The sending postal service must collect either the applicable country tariff or a per-item fixed tariff based on the country of origin:

"Transportation carriers delivering shipments to the United States through the international postal network, or other parties if qualified in lieu of such transportation carriers, must collect and remit duties to CBP using the methodology described in either subsection (b) or (c) of this section.  Each transportation carrier shall apply the same methodology across all covered shipments during any given period but may change its methodology no more than once per calendar month, or on another schedule determined to be appropriate by CBP, upon providing at least 24 hours’ notice to CBP.

(b)  A duty equal to the effective IEEPA tariff rate applicable to the country of origin of the product shall be assessed on the value of each dutiable postal item (package) containing goods entered for consumption.

(c)  A specific duty shall be assessed on each package containing goods entered for consumption, based on the effective IEEPA tariff rate applicable to the country of origin of the product as follows:

(i)    Countries with an effective IEEPA tariff rate of less than 16 percent:  $80 per item;

(ii)   Countries with an effective IEEPA tariff rate between 16 and 25 percent (inclusive):  $160 per item; and

(iii)  Countries with an effective IEEPA rate above 25 percent:  $200 per item.

(d)  For all international postal shipments subject to the methodologies described in subsections (b) and (c) of this section, the country of origin of the article must be declared to CBP."

[plummetairlines]

Okay. So under my selling identity I have CDs for sale. Some will be made in the UK, some in Germany, some in Japan etc  It's not very easy to find out where the CD originates from - small print somewhere on the CD usually. The CD is not always pressed in the same country as the accompanying insert and booklet are printed. It'll be possible for me to check when I make a new listing, it's all the existing ones that I can't face sorting.
Similarily, books. Often published in the UK, but printed elsewhere.
Tempted either to do a mass update and put UK for everything, or stop selling to the USA.

[great-deals-guy]

I think every CD will have a Discogs entry that will give the country of manufacture. And with books I would image that it would be where it is printed. I am not sure, but I am very interested because this is something that I will have to think about in future.

Best wishes,

great-deals-guy 

[wellingnorth]

It's hard to know how this is going to work in practise, how much it will be enforced, checked, etc

I think I'll probably stick to adding the country of origin item specific where the item clearly states where it is made.

Supposedly ebay cover you if the buyer does not pay import charges, but I wonder to what extent they may be able to challenge that if incorrect information was provided to customs. 

[pillarboxred]

Books used to get special treatment on taxation as they convey knowledge and culture. On CDs and LPs code numbers can indicate country of origin. What is going to happen with all the "English" china brands now made in the Far East?

[wizzbang43]

I've never seen a Gildan T shirt "made in the USA". Bangladesh maybe, Haiti, maybe, but never USA. On top of which they're a Canadian company so if you print in the UK what's the country of origin? I've no idea but UK has to be a strong contender.

[jjambadger27]

Discogs is a user led platform so the info on there isn't always correct. Most CDs will have the address of the record label on the back insert in the case/back of digital so best to go by the country stated there if there is no sticker on the album stating where it was made. 

[wyntersemporium]

I’m putting my jewellery down as made in uk now. Which technically they are made in the uk as I hand finish them. 

[wyntersemporium]

Just checked one of my iron maiden t shirts says made in Haiti but more than likely printed in the uk 

[bizzy-lizzy99]

From the Royal Mail website re: Customs Form.

https://www.postoffice.co.uk/icdc/

[eastern-lights]

I wonder what the penalty is for being wrong? For guessing? Would anybody check? Tempting to put China for everything unless know to be different.

I'm adding country of origin for new listings (where known) but my overseas sales are rare these days so I don't think I'll be ploughing through current listings.

[*vyolla*]

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@wyntersemporium wrote:

I’m putting my jewellery down as made in uk now. Which technically they are made in the uk as I hand finish them. 

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I'd do the same.

It is a weird one, for sure. Loads of people make jewellery from components that are likely to be from China, or beads from Czech republic. You could put something together that features bits from loads of different countries, making one item positively global!