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Does anyone understand how watch tariffs work currently for watches coming into the US?

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Porteroso
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Archer Archer
Are you sure? To me this reads otherwise...
I didn't provide good context, sorry. On the page I copied from, those bullet points are subpoints of the first section. So they are describing in detail the first point. It's just China and Hong Kong.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-she...nas-role-in-americas-synthetic-opioid-crisis/

Here is another explanation.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/de-minimis-exemption-end-date-tariff/

edit: There is actually very little current news about this that would explain exactly what is happening... probably because things are so uncertain. 6 days ago Trump said the deal with China was done, so at some point soon I bet there will be new rules in place. Oh the joy!
 
pdxleaf
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Porteroso Porteroso
.... 6 days ago Trump said the deal with China was done, so at some point soon I bet there will be new rules in place. Oh the joy!

Trump: "I had a great phone call with China!"

China: "What phone call?! We never called."

They'll be new rules, but they won't be in place.
Edited:
 
Archer
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Porteroso Porteroso
edit: There is actually very little current news about this that would explain exactly what is happening... probably because things are so uncertain.
Yes, exactly as I stated. Things change by the minute. Yesterday there appeared to be a new agreement between Canada and the US moving along, and expected to be signed in the next 30 days (one to I guess replace the agreement that Trump signed and broke already?). Today that has completely flipped on it's head again, and Trump said we will still be paying big tariffs.
 
Porteroso
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Archer Archer
Yes, exactly as I stated. Things change by the minute. Yesterday there appeared to be a new agreement between Canada and the US moving along, and expected to be signed in the next 30 days (one to I guess replace the agreement that Trump signed and broke already?). Today that has completely flipped on it's head again, and Trump said we will still be paying big tariffs.
There are country specific de minimis exemptions, and only the China/Hong Kong ones were suspended. For example, there is a de minimis exception for Switzerland, and also Canada, of $800 USD, and that is still in place. Nothing has changed in 2025 on that front.
 
Archer
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Porteroso Porteroso
There are country specific de minimis exemptions, and only the China/Hong Kong ones were suspended. For example, there is a de minimis exception for Switzerland, and also Canada, of $800 USD, and that is still in place. Nothing has changed in 2025 on that front.
Well, if you look at the EO on the so called "reciprocal" tariffs:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presiden...nt-annual-united-states-goods-trade-deficits/

Under section 3 (h) it says this:

(h) Duty-free de minimis treatment under 19 U.S.C. 1321(a)(2)(A)-(B) shall remain available for the articles described in subsection (a) of this section. Duty-free de minimis treatment under 19 U.S.C. 1321(a)(2)(C) shall remain available for the articles described in subsection (a) of this section until notification by the Secretary of Commerce to the President that adequate systems are in place to fully and expeditiously process and collect duty revenue applicable pursuant to this subsection for articles otherwise eligible for de minimis treatment. After such notification, duty-free de minimis treatment under 19 U.S.C. 1321(a)(2)(C) shall not be available for the articles described in subsection (a) of this section.

If you look at the code, 1321(a)(2)(A)-(B) refers to the $100 and $200 level for gits and items you bring back when on vacation, and this is not affected:

(A)
$100 in the case of articles sent as bona fide gifts from persons in foreign countries to persons in the United States ($200 in the case of articles sent as bona fide gifts from persons in the Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa), or
(B)
$200 in the case of articles accompanying, and for the personal or household use of, persons arriving in the United States who are not entitled to any exemption from duty under subheading 9804.00.30, 9804.00.65, or 9804.00.70 of title I of this Act,[1] or

1321(a)(2)(C) is the rest - shipped in items and is the $800 level de minimis and this is what is planned to be eliminated when they have the capability as stated in the EO:

(C)
$800 in any other case.

None of this is China specific, from what I can tell. Not just my opinion - there's more on it here:

https://www.supplychaindive.com/news/de-minimis-china-trump-elimination-tariffs/744313/

So again, I believe that unless things have changed (a very real possibility) the EO lays out the groundwork for eliminating the $800 de minimis on everything coming into the US, once the systems are in place to handle it. Having said that, the vast majority of that comes from China already from the stats that I have seen.
 
Meme-Dweller
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Archer Archer
Well, if you look at the EO on the so called "reciprocal" tariffs:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presiden...nt-annual-united-states-goods-trade-deficits/

Under section 3 (h) it says this:

(h) Duty-free de minimis treatment under 19 U.S.C. 1321(a)(2)(A)-(B) shall remain available for the articles described in subsection (a) of this section. Duty-free de minimis treatment under 19 U.S.C. 1321(a)(2)(C) shall remain available for the articles described in subsection (a) of this section until notification by the Secretary of Commerce to the President that adequate systems are in place to fully and expeditiously process and collect duty revenue applicable pursuant to this subsection for articles otherwise eligible for de minimis treatment. After such notification, duty-free de minimis treatment under 19 U.S.C. 1321(a)(2)(C) shall not be available for the articles described in subsection (a) of this section.

If you look at the code, 1321(a)(2)(A)-(B) refers to the $100 and $200 level for gits and items you bring back when on vacation, and this is not affected:

(A)
$100 in the case of articles sent as bona fide gifts from persons in foreign countries to persons in the United States ($200 in the case of articles sent as bona fide gifts from persons in the Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa), or
(B)
$200 in the case of articles accompanying, and for the personal or household use of, persons arriving in the United States who are not entitled to any exemption from duty under subheading 9804.00.30, 9804.00.65, or 9804.00.70 of title I of this Act,[1] or

1321(a)(2)(C) is the rest - shipped in items and is the $800 level de minimis and this is what is planned to be eliminated when they have the capability as stated in the EO:

(C)
$800 in any other case.

None of this is China specific, from what I can tell. Not just my opinion - there's more on it here:

https://www.supplychaindive.com/news/de-minimis-china-trump-elimination-tariffs/744313/

So again, I believe that unless things have changed (a very real possibility) the EO lays out the groundwork for eliminating the $800 de minimis on everything coming into the US, once the systems are in place to handle it. Having said that, the vast majority of that comes from China already from the stats that I have seen.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-she...nas-role-in-americas-synthetic-opioid-crisis/
 
Archer
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pdxleaf pdxleaf
So he's charging duties on synthetic opioids?
I think he prefers the natural kind...
 
Meme-Dweller
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Archer Archer
Yes, I've read it many times - are you saying this somehow refutes/overrides the EO?
It's contained within the same EO you linked. There is a section that specifically applies to China/HK:

(i) The Executive Order of April 2, 2025 (Further Amendment to Duties Addressing the Synthetic Opioid Supply Chain in the People’s Republic of China as Applied to Low-Value Imports), regarding low-value imports from China is not affected by this order, and all duties and fees with respect to covered articles shall be collected as required and detailed therein.

(j) To reduce the risk of transshipment and evasion, all ad valorem rates of duty imposed by this order or any successor orders with respect to articles of China shall apply equally to articles of both the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Macau Special Administrative Region.
 
Porteroso
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Archer Archer
Well, if you look at the EO on the so called "reciprocal" tariffs:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presiden...nt-annual-united-states-goods-trade-deficits/

Under section 3 (h) it says this:

(h) Duty-free de minimis treatment under 19 U.S.C. 1321(a)(2)(A)-(B) shall remain available for the articles described in subsection (a) of this section. Duty-free de minimis treatment under 19 U.S.C. 1321(a)(2)(C) shall remain available for the articles described in subsection (a) of this section until notification by the Secretary of Commerce to the President that adequate systems are in place to fully and expeditiously process and collect duty revenue applicable pursuant to this subsection for articles otherwise eligible for de minimis treatment. After such notification, duty-free de minimis treatment under 19 U.S.C. 1321(a)(2)(C) shall not be available for the articles described in subsection (a) of this section.

If you look at the code, 1321(a)(2)(A)-(B) refers to the $100 and $200 level for gits and items you bring back when on vacation, and this is not affected:

(A)
$100 in the case of articles sent as bona fide gifts from persons in foreign countries to persons in the United States ($200 in the case of articles sent as bona fide gifts from persons in the Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa), or
(B)
$200 in the case of articles accompanying, and for the personal or household use of, persons arriving in the United States who are not entitled to any exemption from duty under subheading 9804.00.30, 9804.00.65, or 9804.00.70 of title I of this Act,[1] or

1321(a)(2)(C) is the rest - shipped in items and is the $800 level de minimis and this is what is planned to be eliminated when they have the capability as stated in the EO:

(C)
$800 in any other case.

None of this is China specific, from what I can tell. Not just my opinion - there's more on it here:

https://www.supplychaindive.com/news/de-minimis-china-trump-elimination-tariffs/744313/

So again, I believe that unless things have changed (a very real possibility) the EO lays out the groundwork for eliminating the $800 de minimis on everything coming into the US, once the systems are in place to handle it. Having said that, the vast majority of that comes from China already from the stats that I have seen.
I think you're right, and they are laying out the initial framework for it. However they are not committing to eliminating the de minimis on anyone other than basically China, as of yet. Nothing has changed there. Apparently Trump can eliminate it at any time, for any country.
 
Archer
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Meme-Dweller Meme-Dweller
It's contained within the same EO you linked. There is a section that specifically applies to China/HK:

(i) The Executive Order of April 2, 2025 (Further Amendment to Duties Addressing the Synthetic Opioid Supply Chain in the People’s Republic of China as Applied to Low-Value Imports), regarding low-value imports from China is not affected by this order, and all duties and fees with respect to covered articles shall be collected as required and detailed therein.

(j) To reduce the risk of transshipment and evasion, all ad valorem rates of duty imposed by this order or any successor orders with respect to articles of China shall apply equally to articles of both the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Macau Special Administrative Region.
Right - that applies to China. It states that the duties from China will be collected and are not affected by the EO. This has nothing to do with what I quoted above...
 
Porteroso
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pdxleaf pdxleaf
So he's charging duties on synthetic opioids?
These packages avoid a lot of the scrutiny, because they are exempt, and there are so many of them. It's a way to try to curb the flow of illegal substances into the U.S.
 
Archer
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Porteroso Porteroso
I think you're right, and they are laying out the initial framework for it. However they are not committing to eliminating the de minimis on anyone other than basically China, as of yet. Nothing has changed there. Apparently Trump can eliminate it at any time, for any country.
Well, the EO does just that. Of course he can change his mind any time he wants (a recurring theme in these discussions for sure), but to suggest that nothing else other than the China changes has been set in motion in 2025, is incorrect. You would be correct to say it had not been fully implemented, but it's 100% there right now.
 
Porteroso
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Archer Archer
Well, the EO does just that. Of course he can change his mind any time he wants (a recurring theme in these discussions for sure), but to suggest that nothing else other than the China changes has been set in motion in 2025, is incorrect. You would be correct to say it had not been fully implemented, but it's 100% there right now.
The EO leave it completely open ended. If and when the secretary of commerce says they are ready to eliminate de minimis on x countries, they can do it. They are signaling that Macau will be next. Nobody knows after that. If they decide to scuttle this idea, it's as simple as not implementing it. As you said, it is the framework.

I'm saying the de minimis exemption is unchanged, because it's unchanged for all countries other than China and Hong Kong.
 
Meme-Dweller
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Archer Archer
Right - that applies to China. It states that the duties from China will be collected and are not affected by the EO. This has nothing to do with what I quoted above...
There's a huge rabbit hole of Executive Orders, HS codes, legal documents, etc to look through that supplements and overrides each other. All we know is that currently, the de minimis is gone for China and HK, but it's fruitless to speculate on what changes will be made tomorrow. Who knows, he could sign an Executive Order that taxes breathing non-American air. OP was asking about South Africa and Italy, so this information is irrelevant for now.

Anyways, here's an image I just took that will personify the current state of affairs:

IMG_5867.webp
 
97TJ
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My only point was if you're looking to spend $8-10k+ on a watch and another $800 bucks or so makes you flinch, you probably shouldn't be spending the $8 grand+ on a frivolous luxury item like a watch in the first place.
 
STANDY
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Sent something to the USA from Australia and the post office lady was having a hard time working out the new rules they have….

Even sent from Australia anything made in china 🇨🇳 was going to be another page of reading 📖 new rules. (Lucky it was a Australian made product)

The new rules were from the US postal side not Australian side so might be worth a look for those interested.
 
Porteroso
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And just to be clear, what we're discussing, the de minimis exemption, only applies on something under $800.

The main reason USPS does not collect duty, by the way, is that they don't have good systems for doing so. So my argument would be to go ahead and buy what you want now, and ship through the postal service. They have been on a multi year mission to modernize their systems, and at some point they might just start collecting.
 
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