Shipping from Germany to the US: customs duty and the 10% tariff (2026)
For sellers in Germany of Christmas decorations, toys, ceramics and beer steins, jewellery, leather goods, knitwear and art on Etsy, eBay, Amazon or their own shop: every order to a US buyer now goes through US customs, whatever its value, and DHL Paket requires the duties to be prepaid on US parcels worth up to US$2,500. Since 24 July 2026 goods made in Germany (or anywhere in the EU) pay a total US duty of at least 10%: items with a lower normal rate are topped up to 10%, items already at 10% or more pay nothing extra. A few products escape entirely. Here is how it works, with worked totals and an official source and date for every rule. A short German summary is at the end.
Calculate your own order for Germany → US
The rules in 60 seconds
The US $800 duty-free de minimis exemption has been suspended for commercial shipments from every country since 29 August 2025. Every shipment, whatever its value, now goes through customs entry and pays any applicable duty. What the end of de minimis means
Since 24 July 2026, EU-origin goods pay Section 301 duty 'net of MFN': if a product's normal US duty is below 10%, the total becomes 10%; if it is already 10% or more, no Section 301 duty is added. Italy to US duty guide · France to US duty guide · Spain to US duty guide · Netherlands to US duty guide · Ireland to US duty guide · Austria to US duty guide · Poland to US duty guide · Portugal to US duty guide · Greece to US duty guide · Belgium to US duty guide
From 24 July 2026, postal shipments pay standard duty rates (including Section 232 and 301 duties). The earlier interim postal duty treatment ended. Free-trade-agreement preference can now be claimed on postal shipments if you supply the documentation.
Genuine person-to-person gifts worth US$100 or less are still duty-free. A business cannot declare a sale or promotional item as a gift. How to fill in customs forms
How the 10% EU rule works
The 10% is not added on top of the normal duty, unlike the 12.5% for goods from Australia or Thailand or the 10% for UK goods. It is a floor: the extra duty is only the gap between the normal US rate and 10%.
The EU rule is set in the US tariff by two headings. Heading 9903.05.39 covers goods 'the product of a member state of the European Union' whose normal (column 1) US rate is below 10%: under U.S. note 52(k) 'the sum of the column 1 duty rate and the additional ad valorem rate of duty is 10 percent', so a free item pays 10%, a 5% item pays 5% more and a 9.8% item 0.2% more. Heading 9903.05.38 covers EU goods with a normal rate of 10% or more, which pay only the normal duty. Per-kilogram or per-item (specific or compound) rates are converted to a percentage by dividing the duty by the customs value: 50 cents per kilogram on a 1 kg item worth US$10 counts as 5%.
The EU rate applies to goods that are 'the product of a member state of the European Union'. CBP says Section 301 duties are based on the country of origin, not the country of export, so goods made in China, India or Türkiye and resold from a German shop pay the US rates for the country where they were made, not the EU 10% rule.
What happened to the earlier US tariffs on EU goods?
On 20 February 2026 the US Supreme Court (Learning Resources v. Trump) held that IEEPA does not authorise tariffs. IEEPA tariffs stopped being collected on 24 February 2026. The ruling did NOT bring back de minimis: a separate order kept it suspended.
A temporary 10% Section 122 surcharge on most imports applied from 24 February 2026 and expired on 24 July 2026.
How much US duty to expect
Estimates from our calculator for goods made in Germany or elsewhere in the EU, before any carrier or DDP-service fees. Total rate = the normal US rate, topped up to 10% if it is lower. Use the link in each row to change the price, shipping or product.
US codes and general rates from the official US tariff (U.S. International Trade Commission, checked 4 Nov 2026) and headings 9903.05.38, 9903.05.39 and 9903.05.97 (U.S. International Trade Commission). Codes are shown at 8 digits: your declaration needs the full 10-digit code (DHL Paket requires it), and your exact product may sit under a different code with a different rate (for example porcelain instead of stoneware, glass beer mugs, nutcrackers or wooden figures, plated or imitation jewellery, or wool blends). Check yours in our HS code lookup links.
Sample normal (general) US rates in the 2026 tariff: Christmas ornaments of glass (9505.10.10) and of wood (9505.10.15) free; toys, including stuffed toys (9503.00.00) free; candles (3406.00.00) free; ceramic mugs and steins other than porcelain (6912.00.44) 10%; other ceramic tableware such as stoneware plates (6912.00.48) 9.8%; silver jewellery (7113.11.50) 5%; gold jewellery (7113.19.50) 5.5%; leather wallets (4202.31.60) 8%; leather handbags (4202.21.90) 9%; wool jumpers (6110.11.00) 16%; cotton T-shirts (6109.10.00) 16.5%; unset cut gemstones for jewellery (7103.99.10) free.
This guide treats US duty as a percentage of the goods' value, excluding international shipping. That is a simplification of US customs valuation; complex cases differ.
What escapes the 10%: gemstones, cork, silk, coffee, art, antiques, books
The exclusions are set by tariff code, so they only help if the code you declare is on the list. Our calculator handles paintings, prints and books automatically, but not yet the EU-only list (cork, silk, pearls, unset diamonds and gemstones), coffee or tea: for those items use the normal rate in the US tariff and leave out the top-up. Goods under Section 232 sector tariffs (for example steel, aluminium or copper articles, or certain furniture) pay those tariffs instead.
Heading 9903.05.97 and U.S. note 52(j)(2) exempt some EU-origin products from the 10% rule altogether, so they pay only their normal US rate: natural cork and cork articles (4501.10.00 to 4504.90.00), raw and thrown silk and silk yarn (5004.00.00 to 5006.00.90), some woven silk fabrics (5007.10.30, 5007.10.60, 5007.20.00, 5007.90.30), natural pearls (7101.10.30, 7101.10.60), unset diamonds (7102.10.00, 7102.31.00, 7102.39.00), and unset precious and semi-precious stones (7103.10.20, 7103.10.40, 7103.91.00, 7103.99.10, 7103.99.50), plus a few industrial chemicals and metals. A cut gemstone suitable for jewellery but not set (7103.99.10, normal rate free) therefore enters at 0%. Once a stone is set in a ring or pendant it is jewellery (7113) and the 10% rule applies.
U.S. note 52(b) (heading 9903.05.86) excludes listed tariff lines from every 2026 Section 301 duty, including the EU 10% rule. For German sellers the useful ones are coffee (0901), tea (0902) and paintings, drawings and other works of art, collectors' pieces and antiques over 100 years old (headings 9701 to 9706); heading 9903.05.92 excludes informational materials such as books. Beer, wine, Christmas decorations, toys, ceramics, jewellery, clothing and leather goods are not on these lists.
Section 232 sector tariffs apply in addition, e.g. 15–50% on steel/aluminium/copper goods (by metal content tiers since 6 April 2026), 25% on certain upholstered furniture, kitchen cabinets and vanities (scheduled to rise on 1 January 2027).
DHL Paket, Deutsche Post, DHL Express and DDP
Postal parcels to the US must have duties prepaid (Postal Delivered Duty Paid, PDDP). In practice, sending by post with the buyer paying duty on delivery (DDU) is generally not available. DDP vs DAP explained
Deutsche Post DHL (DHL Paket International) to the US since 24 July 2026: prepaid duties (pDDP) are mandatory for goods worth up to and including US$2,500 (before: US$800), and duties are charged at the normal commercial US rates instead of the earlier flat 10%; DHL's customs broker Zonos handles the clearance. Only above US$2,500 can the receiver pay. Every item needs the 10-digit US HTSUS code, a clear description, the country of origin and the value, or the parcel cannot be delivered. DHL uses a fixed rate of 0.85 EUR/USD, so its limit is €2,125 (US$100 = €85), and it recommends declaring values in USD. Exceptions: private parcels worth up to US$100 clearly marked as a gift, and documents. Only the DHL Paket brand is affected, not DHL Express or DHL eCommerce.
For 'special goods' (products with extra US customs or Partner Government Agency data requirements), DHL Paket requires the additional US data from 20 January 2027 (postponed from 22 October 2026). DHL recommends a free Zonos Verified Account (registration open since 14 September 2026) to store the data per product. Special goods that arrive in the US without the required data cannot be cleared and are sent back at the sender's cost.
DHL says that, under US rules, US duties paid on parcels worth up to US$2,500 currently cannot be reclaimed when the goods are returned. It expected refunds to become possible under the new procedure from the end of October 2026, but says this is not confirmed.
With DHL Express, UPS or FedEx the courier handles the US entry. If the buyer pays the duty on delivery (DAP), couriers add their own fee for paying it on the buyer’s behalf:
DHL Express charges US receivers a Duty Tax Processing fee of US$17.50 or 2.5% of the duties and taxes, whichever is higher, when it pays them on their behalf. A US$1.38 regulatory charge can also apply.
Ask your courier for its US clearance and DDP fees and enter them in the calculator, because we only include fees we can cite. How DDP and DAP compare: DDP vs DAP for marketplace sellers.
Selling on Etsy to US buyers
Etsy: US-bound orders must use DDP shipping to qualify for Etsy Purchase Protection. Etsy does not collect US tariffs itself; your carrier or DDP service does.
Etsy's international shipping help page lists Deutsche Post, DHL and UPS as commonly used DDP carriers for sellers in Germany, and Billbee and Sendcloud as recommended third-party shipping services.
Etsy says US-bound packages need a 10-digit HTS code and EU-bound packages a 6-digit code. Without one, a package may be delayed or returned.
On Etsy labels, the customs declared value is filled in from the order total for the items (after discounts), without shipping or tax. Etsy pre-fills the customs description from your listing, but you are responsible for checking that every customs detail is accurate. Customs forms guide
With DDP, the duty in the table above is paid by you (through DHL and Zonos, or your shipping service), so build it into your US price or shipping rate.
Checklist before you ship from Germany to the US
- Find the 10-digit US code for each product and its normal duty rate in the US tariff. If it is below 10%, your total is 10%; if it is 10% or more, there is nothing extra, unless the code is on an exclusion list (unset gemstones, cork, silk, coffee, tea, art, antiques, books).
- Remember that duty-free goods are not free any more: a glass ornament, toy or candle with a free normal rate pays 10%.
- Country of origin is where the item was made, not where you post it from. Stock bought from suppliers in China or elsewhere keeps its own origin and pays that country’s US rates.
- Use a specific description ("mouth-blown glass Christmas ornament", "stoneware beer stein, 0.5 l", "sterling silver ring"), not "gift", "handmade item" or "jewellery".
- Never mark a sale, replacement or freebie as a gift: only genuine private gifts of US$100 or less are exempt.
- Posting with DHL Paket? Declare values in USD, stay at or below US$2,500 per parcel, and expect the duties to be charged to you.
- Selling food, cosmetics, toys or other goods regulated by US agencies? Check whether DHL treats them as ‘special goods’ and prepare the extra US data (DHL recommends a free Zonos Verified Account) before 20 January 2027.
- Send DDP so the buyer is not asked to pay on delivery.
Kurz auf Deutsch
- Die US-Zollfreigrenze von 800 US-Dollar (de minimis) gilt seit dem 29. August 2025 nicht mehr. Jedes Paket in die USA wird verzollt, egal wie niedrig der Warenwert ist.
- Seit dem 24. Juli 2026 zahlen Waren mit Ursprung in der EU insgesamt mindestens 10% US-Zoll (HTSUS 9903.05.38/9903.05.39): Liegt der normale US-Zollsatz unter 10%, wird auf 10% aufgestockt; liegt er bei 10% oder mehr, kommt nichts dazu. Beispiele: Christbaumschmuck aus Glas 0% → 10%; Silberschmuck 5% → 10%; Steinzeug-Bierkrug 10% → 10%; Wollpullover 16% → 16%.
- Ausgenommen sind unter anderem ungefasste Edelsteine und Schmucksteine, Kork, Seide, Kaffee, Tee, Gemälde, Antiquitäten über 100 Jahre und Bücher.
- Maßgeblich ist das Ursprungsland (wo die Ware hergestellt wurde), nicht das Versandland. Ware aus China zahlt die US-Zölle für China, auch wenn sie aus Deutschland verschickt wird.
- DHL Paket in die USA: Verzollung im Voraus (pDDP) ist bis einschließlich 2.500 USD Pflicht (DHL rechnet fest mit 0,85 EUR/USD, also 2.125 EUR); der 10-stellige US-Zolltarifcode (HTSUS) und das Ursprungsland je Artikel sind Pflicht. Ausnahme: private Geschenke bis 100 USD und Dokumente.
- Diese Seite ist eine allgemeine Information, keine Rechts-, Steuer- oder Zollberatung.
Coming up
Mandatory electronic 'Entry Type 13' filing for postal goods that are subject to Section 201/232/301 duties (HTSUS Chapters 98/99) or regulated by a Partner Government Agency (FDA, CPSC, USDA etc.) was postponed from 22 October 2026 to 20 January 2027 (final rule published in the Federal Register on 22 October 2026). Until then the existing mail entry process continues. From 22 October 2026 CBP's optional Entry Type 13 test also accepts filings with or without complete electronic PGA data, for a temporary period.
Proposal only, not in force: on 8 October 2026 CBP published a proposed rule ('Low-Value Shipments', FR doc. 2026-20650) that would require all informal entries of goods worth US$2,500 or less to be filed electronically before or on arrival, make the new electronic Entry Type 13 the entry route for such mail shipments, add a shipper/sender data element and new bond requirements, and require consignees to use a licensed customs broker as importer of record for mail entries. Public comments are open until 7 December 2026. Nothing changes until a final rule is published.
US tariff rates have changed several times since 2025 and can change again. We record every change in the change log. Why every US order now pays duty: US de minimis has ended. Named as importer on your own DDP shipments? From 5 January 2027 see the foreign importer of record rule. The whole EU route, including other EU postal services: EU → US. Other origins: Italy → US · France → US · Spain → US · Netherlands → US · Ireland → US · Austria → US · Poland → US · Portugal → US · Greece → US · Belgium → US · Philippines → US · New Zealand → US · UK → US · Australia → US · China → US · Japan → US · Korea → US · Türkiye → US · India → US · Vietnam → US · Thailand → US · Canada → US. Selling jewellery? See jewellery import duty. Selling art? See art, prints and antiques. Filling in a customs form? See CN22 and CN23 customs forms. Buyer returned an order? See international returns and duty refunds.
This page is general information, not legal, tax or customs advice. Tariff lists, exclusions, origin rules and carriers’ and marketplaces’ terms change; check the official tariff and their current pages. See the disclaimer.
Sources for this page
- Sending packages to the U.S. – duty updates, Canada Post. Accessed 20 Oct 2026. Verified
- Shipping to the USA? – business updates (guide updated 6 Oct 2026), Royal Mail. Accessed 5 Nov 2026. Verified
- CBP modernizes low-value shipment processing (24 Jun 2026), U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Accessed 27 Oct 2026. Verified
- Notice of Actions in Section 301 Forced Labor Investigations (23 Jul 2026), Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. Accessed 4 Nov 2026. Verified
- HTSUS headings 9903.05.38, 9903.05.39 and 9903.05.97: Section 301 duty on products of EU member states (2026 HTS Revision 22), U.S. International Trade Commission. Accessed 4 Nov 2026. Verified
- HTSUS Chapter 99, Subchapter III, U.S. note 52 (Section 301 duties, exclusions and the 12.5% rule) (2026 HTS Revision 22), U.S. International Trade Commission. Accessed 4 Nov 2026. Verified
- Section 301 Trade Remedies Frequently Asked Questions (“Are products of Hong Kong subject to the additional Section 301 duties?”), U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Accessed 2 Nov 2026. Verified
- Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump, No. 24-1287 (20 Feb 2026), Supreme Court of the United States. Accessed 20 Oct 2026. Partly verified
- Indefinite Suspension of the De Minimis Exemption for Mail Shipments and New Postal Informal Entry Process (Interim final rule, 24 Jun 2026), Federal Register / CBP. Accessed 20 Oct 2026. Partly verified
- Active Presidential Tariff Actions in 2026: Fact Sheet (R49481), Congressional Research Service (via EveryCRSReport). Accessed 20 Oct 2026. Partly verified
- Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States: general (MFN) rates for the sample codes on the Germany to US page (2026 HTS Revision 22), U.S. International Trade Commission. Accessed 4 Nov 2026. Verified
- Answers to common questions about U.S. tariffs, Trade Commissioner Service (Government of Canada). Accessed 3 Nov 2026. Verified
- US-Versand / Postal DDP, Deutsche Post DHL. Accessed 4 Nov 2026. Verified
- Customs Services (effective 1 January 2026), DHL Express USA. Accessed 24 Oct 2026. Verified
- Information for Managing International Shipments, Etsy Help. Accessed 10 Nov 2026. Verified
- Navigating Evolving Global Tariff Policies, Etsy Seller Handbook. Accessed 20 Oct 2026. Partly verified
- Indefinite Suspension of the De Minimis Exemption for Mail Shipments and New Postal Informal Entry Process; Delayed Compliance Extension (Final rule, 91 FR, 22 Oct 2026, doc. 2026-21600), Federal Register / U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Accessed 22 Oct 2026. Verified
- Modification of the Test of the New Electronic Informal Entry Process for Mail (General notice, 22 Oct 2026, doc. 2026-21570), Federal Register / U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Accessed 22 Oct 2026. Verified
- International Mail Entry Type 13 mandatory implementation date extended to Jan. 20, 2027 (14 Oct 2026), U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Accessed 22 Oct 2026. Verified
- Low-Value Shipments (Proposed rule, 91 FR 64532, 8 Oct 2026, doc. 2026-20650), Federal Register / U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Accessed 26 Oct 2026. Verified
Rules change often: the latest change we tracked was on 10 Nov 2026 (US: the 178 China Section 301 product exclusions are extended to 9 January 2027). Alerts send one short email, with the source, only when a rule changes on a route you pick.