Information reaching us today is that effective August 29th 2025, I will no longer be able to import product under the “de minimis” tax and duty exemption. This exemption applied to packages under $800, and under the new rule effective August 29th, this drops to $Zero.
Worse, packages under $800 are apparently to be hit with a flat $80 tariff, which is to be collected by the shipper – meaning the post office (or UPS, FedEx, DHL) of the sending country. As most of my imports are around the $400 mark, this means I am to pay a tariff that is effectively 20% or more.
For more information, see this article from The Washington Post published yesterday:
Quoting from the above,
“The extra charges on a package will depend on the methodology used to calculate it, according to the executive order. The duty rate will either match the level of tariff the U.S. has imposed on the country of origin, or a specific duty based on the following:
- For countries with a tariff rate of 15 percent or less, such as Britain, each package will incur an additional charge of $80.
- Parcels originating from countries with U.S. tariffs of between 16 and 25 percent will incur an additional $160.
- Countries with a tariff rate of more than 25 percent will face an extra $200.
The new rules could also put the onus on senders to pay import duties before the shipment leaves for the U.S., according to Belgium’s bpost. It said in a statement the changes mean “import duties for all shipments with goods must be prepaid, regardless of value.”
(end of quoted material)
Note that the article says the $80, $160 or $200 charge will apply to ANY package under $800.
I can guarantee you that non of my suppliers are going to pay these tariff charges. They will be added to my invoice, and I will have to pay them, or I will not receive my order.
As my margins are already micro thin (my accountant says i earned less than $800 taxable profit last year), I cannot absorb them. Worse, if I am to replace sold product (which I generally do 1 for 1) without further investment, I have to apply the tariff to existing stock.
Consequently, with great regret, and effective immediately, I am adding a 20% tariff surcharge on all imported product lines.
Airline Hobby Supplies 
It is very unfortunate for US consumers but then the European Union does the same including goods ordered from the UK which, since Brexit, have generated very high import duties for Europeans.
How can governments be so bloody stupid to put such a break on commerce.
Our hobby is particularly impacted because most goods for continental Europeans come from the US and the UK and because there is a tit for tat response from Europe.
Stupid short sighted political views from the idiots we have put in the government seats.
You did a great job but unfortunately a large chunk of scale modelers will have to look for alternatives IF they can find them.