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Updated June 3, 2025
Customs duties for importing steel and aluminum to the United States will increase from 25% to 50% starting June 4, 2025
We confirm this is still an additional duty on top of the original import duty. As previously established, the duty for primary steel and aluminum products is calculated on the value of the finished product, while for derivative products, the duty is calculated only on the value of the steel or aluminum contained within the finished product.
For derivative products, the residual value of the product, minus the value of the steel and aluminum [now subject to a 50% duty], continues to be taxed using the original U.S. import duty [the duty before April 2, 2025, to be precise] with an added general additional duty of +10%
Presidential Proclamation of June 3 Increasing U.S. Customs Duties on Steel/Aluminum Imports
Calculation of duty for importing a steel [or aluminum] derivative product to the U.S.:
Updated May 29, 2025 - AFTERNOON
The additional 10% duty for importing to the U.S. is back in effect.
At 3:46 PM today, a federal appeals court temporarily suspended the effectiveness of the decision overturning the global duties imposed by former President Donald Trump, pending a final decision on a possible permanent suspension of the measure [see our morning update on another page of the ExportUSA site]
Therefore: Until the appeal decision, EVERYTHING REMAINS UNCHANGED:
Updated May 17, 2025
Announced reduction for 90 days of duties on imports from China to America from 145% to 30% with an additional 20% related to Chinese fentanyl smuggling. Also, reduction of duties on imports from the U.S. to China from 125% to 10%. The announcement of duty reductions between the U.S. and China was made following meetings in Geneva between the two governmental delegations, which concluded on May 12, 2025
Updated April 25, 2025
Reciprocal 20% duties for importing goods and merchandise from Italy to America have been suspended for 90 days pending the results of trade negotiations that should have already begun. However, an additional duty of 10% [and therefore more than 20%] remains in effect, added to the normal duty still in effect for imports to the U.S. from Italy.
The duty for importing most cosmetic products to the U.S. is now 10%
The customs classification and duties for importing cosmetics to the U.S. are contained in Chapter 33 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule, for example:
Subcategory 3303.00 Perfumes and Colognes
Sectors like cosmetics are facing a new situation as for the first time a duty on cosmetics imports to America is imposed.
Products like: Perfumes, Makeup, Makeup products, Face lotions, Body creams, Suntan oil, Sunscreens, Lipsticks, Soaps, Hair spray, Shampoos, Toothpastes, soaps, which previously had no duty for the U.S., now have a 10% duty
On cosmetic products like:
The duty for importing industrial machinery to the U.S. ranges from 10% to 17% for the vast majority of industrial goods and electric motors
The U.S. duty on industrial goods and machinery is included in Chapter 84 of the U.S. customs classification. For example:
"U.S. Customs Classification 8401: Air or vacuum pumps, air or other gas compressors and fans; vent or recycling hoods with built-in fan, even filtering; gas-tight biological safety cabinets, even filtering; their parts:"
Contact us for a consultation on U.S. duties and to verify the specific duty related to the product to be imported to the U.S. as the situation is constantly evolving.
Updated April 6, 2025
Duties for importing to the U.S. increase by 20% for most categories of goods exported from Italy. We remind you these are duties to be added to the already existing duties.
On April 2, the Trump administration announced new duties for importing from Italy to the U.S. The new U.S. tariff system applies differentiated import duties by country. Apart from certain categories of goods, such as pharmaceuticals and petroleum derivatives, new taxes for importing to America apply equally to all products. Below we report the updated table of U.S. duties divided by different categories of goods.
Currently, most pharmaceutical products are exempt from the additional duties announced on April 2, 2025
A long list of chemical products has been exempted from additional duties for the U.S.
On importation to America of petroleum, natural gas, and derivatives, no additional duty applies.
Intermediate steel and aluminum products are subject to an additional U.S. duty of 25%. Additional duties also apply to a long list of derivative steel and aluminum products [for example: pots, cutlery, wheels, frames, etc.] Depending on the class of goods, the duty is calculated on the final price of the finished product or on the value of steel or aluminum used for production of the product.
Cars and car parts to be imported to America are also subject to an additional duty of 25%. Knocked-down car kits, however, are not subject to the additional duty.
Construction timber, including veneers, solid wood, and laminated wood, is not subject to additional duties.
There are three types of duties or customs tariffs:
A correct duty calculation is a fundamental element for determining the so-called landed price in the United States [Landed USA Price]
The calculation of duties to be paid for importing goods and products to the U.S. is crucial for calculating the selling price to be charged to customers in America [the so-called "landed U.S. price"]
Here are the basics for calculating duties for America:
Contact us for:
Based on this information, you need to find the customs heading that best describes the product, and from there begins the search to identify the reference sub-category to which the product belongs. Corresponding to the reference customs heading, you will find:
NOTE: Apart from the first four digits, the U.S. customs code is different from the European customs code used for the same product
Importing many types of goods to the U.S. is not subject to duty payment. For calculating U.S. customs duties, a correct customs classification is crucial. This ExportUSA article offers a case study of classification and consequences on import duty calculation. In fact, the majority of goods to be imported to America are at zero duty. Duties, however, vary depending on the category of goods to which the products to be imported to America belong. Some classes of goods, in particular (typically high-tech products), are difficult to classify, others require special attention during customs clearance, such as shoes. In general, shoes, threads, fabrics, and clothing have high duties; industrial products have generally zero or low duties, and food products have duties that range around medium values [about 5% to 10%]
Typically, the activities of preparing the import procedure to the U.S. are conducted by the Italian freight forwarder working closely with the corresponding U.S. customs declarant to ensure that the U.S. import customs procedure is complete and correct and that the customs clearance of the goods in the U.S. proceeds without problems, hold-ups, product seizures, or other types of slowdowns. ExportUSA has selected a freight forwarder specializing in shipments to the U.S. by sea or air who coordinates all aspects of the shipment, from consultation BEFORE shipping on the import procedure:
Importing to America products intended for individuals or even companies with a value below $800 is exempt from duty and has a simplified customs procedure. Since March 10, 2016, the U.S. customs has updated the so-called "De Minimis Fair Retail Value" raising it from $200 to $800. All in-depth details on this type of export to America exempt from import duty payment can be found on this page of the ExportUSA site:
https://www.exportusa.us/vendere-stati-uniti-senza-dazio.php
An expert customs declarant/operator/broker [Customs Broker in American terminology] is key for a smooth import customs procedure during the import and customs clearance phases in the United States. The customs declarant acts as an agent on behalf of the exporter with U.S. customs. An experienced customs broker knows how to advise the most suitable procedures in each circumstance for a quick and trouble-free customs clearance in the U.S. The customs broker also handles the settlement of duties and their payment to U.S. customs.
Updated March 6, 2018
In recent days, newspaper pages in Italy and Europe have been dominated by news regarding the possibility of an increase in import duties from Italy to the U.S. According to these press reports, the administration of President Trump would indiscriminately increase import duties on goods from Italy.
The reality is very different.
The real objective of the new administration is the rebalancing of the trade balance with China and also to prevent new factory relocations from the U.S. to Mexico. The duties imposed on the Vespa Piaggio and on French Roquefort cheese are part of a package approved by the WTO of punitive duties for the non-opening of the European market to American meats. And this is a measure already decided by the Obama administration. The punitive duties imposed on steel imported from Italy to the USA hit only two Italian producing companies found to be in violation of state aid agreements.
For the moment, there is no plan to increase U.S. duties for importing goods from Italy to America.
Updated March 9, 2021
Following the Airbus case, the WTO had awarded compensatory duties in favor of the United States and, for Italy, this translated into additional duties of 25% on the export of Italian cheeses such as Grana and Parmigiano Reggiano, for example, and liqueurs. With the change of administration, a truce was reached and the application of compensatory duties was suspended for a period of four months during which Europe and the United States will negotiate an alternative resolution of the trade dispute.
Updated October 30, 2021
The Biden administration eliminates additional duties of 25% for importing steel and aluminum from Europe to the United States.
The most complex duties to calculate are on:
Here are some examples of duties for the United States:
| Orange Juice | 4.5c/liter | |
| Couscous | 6.40% | |
| Barley Seeds | 0.15c/kg | |
| Shelled Pistachios | 1.9c/kg | |
| Oranges | 1.9c/kg | |
| Raisins | 1.8c/kg | |
| Cotton T-Shirt | 16.50% | |
| Cashmere Sweater | 4% | |
| Mattress | 3% | |
| Down Jackets | 4.40% | |
| Pianos | 4.70% | |
| Contact Lenses | 2% | |
| Frozen Cod | 4% | |
| Frozen Fish Sticks | 7.50% | |
| Women's Cotton Shirts | 15.40% | |
| Women's Synthetic Jacket | 27.30% | |
| Wheat Flour | 0.7c/kg | |
| Golf Shoes | 6% | |
| Plastic Eyeglass Frames | 2.50% | |
ExportUSA offers all logistics services for the United States. We have a warehouse in Ohio that we make available to our clients
https://www.exportusa.eu/logistics-services-exportusa.php
ExportUSA opens US incorporated companies in all of the United States. We can open both LLCs and corporations
https://www.exportusa.eu/opening-a-company-exportusa.php
ExportUSA handles applications for all types of United States visas. We specialize in applications for work visas.
https://www.exportusa.eu/us-visas-exportusa.php
ExportUSA takes care of ensuring that your products adhere to FDA standards. We make sure that all food products, cosmetics, medical devices, and dietary supplements comply with FDA regulations.
https://www.exportusa.eu/fda-compliance-exportusa.php
ExportUSA has created a program for finding distributors in the mechanical, engineering, machinery, and industrial goods sector.
https://www.exportusa.eu/distributors-industrial-machinery-exportusa.php
ExportUSA handles the accounting for all types of American companies and all types of businesses. In addition to bookkeeping, we prepare and present end-of-year income statements as well as quarterly [or monthly, depending] sales tax statements.
https://www.exportusa.eu/accounting-services-exportusa.php
ExportUSA offers an efficient and advantageous personnel recruitment service for the hiring of managers in the American market.
https://www.exportusa.eu/personnel-recruitment-exportusa.php
ExportUSA offers a well-established market research and product positioning service. We put our experience and direct contact with importers, distributors, and representatives in numerous sectors in the United States to use.
https://www.exportusa.eu/market-research-exportusa.php
Branding Services for the American Market: ExportUSA adapts, or {re}adapts your product and prepares it for the American market
https://www.exportusa.eu/re-branding-exportusa.php
Construction Sector - ExportUSA’s services for working in construction in the United States: Theory and Practice: Worksite, renovations, structures, general construction, contract suppliers, supplies, and furniture assembly
https://www.exportusa.eu/construction-sector-exportusa.php