New U.S. Customs Policy: Duty Prepayment & Adjustment

Following a U.S. Executive Order effective August 29, 2025, the $800 "de minimis" import exemption has been removed.

This significant change means all imported items, regardless of value, are now subject to customs duties and taxes. Tariffs are complex, determined by the product's country of origin (not the shipping location), and can vary widely, typically ranging from 15% to 55% or higher.

Couriers are required to collect these duties in advance, before packages enter the U.S. Due to this sudden change, Japan Post is currently unable to process prepaid duties, so shipments to the U.S. have been temporarily suspended.

Our Solution:

To ensure a smooth delivery, we are now using FedEx DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) service. We handle all customs and tariff payments for you upfront, so you will never have to pay fees to the carrier directly upon delivery.

How it works:

1. Prepaid Duty at Checkout: An estimated Prepaid Duty fee will be collected at checkout. This covers the customs tariff (calculated based on your item's country of origin and price) plus the duty handling fees charged by FedEx and CBP.
2. Guaranteed Prepayment: Your order is shipped with all custom duties prepaid, preventing customs delays.
3. Final Adjustment: About 1-2 months* after delivery, FedEx will send us the official duty bill. We will then compare the amount you prepaid with the final actual duty. In the rare event of a difference, we will process an adjustment: if you overpaid, we will refund the difference; if the actual duty is higher, we will contact you for the additional amount. This final adjustment is usually completed about 2-3 months* after delivery.

*The elimination of the duty-free de minimis rule has led to a large increase in package volume requiring formal processing, resulting in significant delays in the issuance of duty invoices.

If you have any questions about tariffs or this process, please contact us here. We truly appreciate your understanding and support as our small shop navigates these challenges.