U.S. Customs Duties: Manual for Exporting Without Extra Costs

Practical guide for businesses and operational advice. How to classify goods, choose the right U.S. codes, use binding rulings from U.S. Customs, and avoid paying more than necessary.

The editorial team at Economy interviewed Lucio Miranda, president of ExportUSA, in the article from September 9, 2025, titled "Chronicle of Announced Customs Duties: Let's Do Some Calculations to Export to America"

Why We Pay Too Much in Customs Duties to the U.S.

The issue of customs duties is crucial for those who export to the United States. The most common mistake is to delegate the calculation to the shipper/declarant: out of caution, they often choose the most “secure” route, which costs more and doesn’t take advantage of opportunities in the U.S. tariff.

Here are the 3 most common mistakes that increase customs costs and how to avoid them with a simple but precise strategy.
 

1. Don’t Delegate the Calculation of Duties

Many companies completely delegate customs management to the shipper. But the carrier, to minimize risks, often applies the most cautious (and costly) customs heading. The result? A higher customs duty, paid unnecessarily.

Solution: Personally oversee the classification of the product and verify the accuracy of the customs code used during the declaration.
 

2. Know the Difference Between EU and U.S. Codes

U.S. customs codes (HTS Code) are not identical to European ones. The first four digits are common, but the remaining six vary and can change the rate to be paid.

Common mistake: Using the same European code for convenience, without checking its American equivalent.

Advice: Study the U.S. tariff to identify the correct and most advantageous HTS code.
 

3. Accurately Classify Goods

Correct classification is the first step to saving on customs duties. But be careful: U.S. customs logics don’t always align with those of the EU. It’s not enough to base it on usage or technical description.

Useful tool: Request a binding ruling from U.S. Customs. This official document clarifies the correct classification of the product and can be used for every future shipment.
 

Mistake	Consequence	Solution
Delegating the calculation to the shipper	Paying more duties than necessary	Directly manage the classification
Using EU customs codes	Application of higher tariffs	Know U.S. HTS codes
Imprecise classification	Risk of penalties and disputes	Use CBP binding rulings