US import duty 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.
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.
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.
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