Hi all-

I ordered some shift linkage cables from Germany for my Vantage. Total cost was under 600 Euros and under 700 USD.

UPS is asking me to pay an import duty of 1173 USD.

It sounds to me like someone misclassified the parts and categorized them into a punitive class.

Does anyone have any experience with disputing this. Bottom line, this is a bureaucratic nightmare.

Best,

 

Looks like they calculated the import duties from 7.000 USD instead of 700 USD. Import duty from the EU to the US should be 15% (perhaps + VAT).

 

what's the harmonized code they use? should be 8708.99.68.90.

 

Car parts may be at a 25% tariff rate, but those numbers don't seem right. The only time I've seem fees like that was stuff coming from China when the tariffs were at their worst.

 

Not sure what Harmonized Code they used. However, the items in question are classified under HTSUS code 8708.99.10.00 and 8708.99.97, which fall under:"Other parts and accessories of motor vehicles of headings 8701 to 8705."
According to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule, the general duty rate for HTS 8708.99.10.00 and 8708.99.97 remains 2.5% ad valorem.

At most I should be paying less than $20.

The government eliminated the diminimus exemption for items valued under $800 (25%). There was a carveout for auto parts, though. So the rate is 2.5%.

Was hoping to get answers from people that have dealt with Customs and stuff like this.

 

Sounds about right for UPS on the tariff cost. Lord help you if you have to return the parts. You'll never get the tariff charge back. Been fighting UPS on this since July. There's the tariff and brokerage/agent costs.

They assign you an account representative in India and hope you go away in disgust.

 

Right for UPS is correct. I didn't pay the tariff and I'll send it back before paying that amount for something that should be $17.

I can't see how the US economy is going to function with those sorts of fee.

Correct too. Seems everything is outsourced to India!

 

Did you get information on how they calculated the tariff, i.e., CBP Form 7501 Entry Summary?

 

No. They keep it purposely vague

 

I managed to get the Rate Sheet that was used.

I've been doing my own research, and I was able to talk to the US Collections (Import Brokerage - Small Package) department of UPS.

Apparently, someone had the brilliant idea that my parts originated from Russia and contain aluminum. Importing aluminum into the US from Russia invokes a punitive tariff of 200 percent. The following are the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) US codes, and some were incorrectly applied.

9903.01.33
HTSUS tariff number 9903.01.33 is a special Chapter 99 provision that applies punitive duties to a wide range of products, including iron or steel articles, aluminum articles, wood products, passenger vehicles, light trucks, medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, and certain copper products. It is part of the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule measures designed to impose additional duties on imports from specific countries under trade remedy actions.
HTSUS 9903.01.33 is not a standard product classification but a penalty tariff code that imposes additional duties on a broad set of goods (steel, aluminum, vehicles, copper, wood) from targeted countries.
The product(s) at issue was/were made entirely within Germany, which has favored nation status, and should not be subject to punitive tariffs.

9903.85.68
HTSUS tariff number 9903.85.68 applies to derivative aluminum articles that are products of Russia. It specifically covers items where any amount of primary aluminum used in manufacturing is smelted in Russia, or where the derivative aluminum articles are cast in Russia.
The product at issue was made in Germany. A tariff of 200 percent is inapplicable here.

8544.19.0000
HTSUS tariff number 8544.19.0000 covers insulated winding wire, other than copper. This includes insulated wire made of aluminum, nickel, silver, tungsten, titanium, steel, or other metals used for electrical purposes.
HTSUS 8544.19.0000 is used for non-copper insulated winding wire (aluminum, nickel, silver, etc.), with a general duty rate of 3.9%, preferential duty-free treatment for many trade partners, and punitive rates for restricted countries.
HTSUS 8544.19.0000 (insulated winding wire, other than copper) is duty‑free for products imported from Germany.
Germany is a Most Favored Nation (MFN) trading partner of the United States.
Under the Generalized System of Preferences and reciprocal trade agreements, the duty rate for this tariff line is listed as “Free” for imports from Germany.
The general duty rate (3.9% ad valorem) applies only to countries without preferential trade status. The 3.9% appears to be applicable here.

9903.01.33
HTSUS tariff number 9903.01.33 is a special Chapter 99 provision that imposes additional duties on a broad set of goods — including iron and steel articles, aluminum articles, wood products, passenger vehicles, light trucks, medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, and certain copper products. It is part of U.S. trade remedy actions (such as Section 232 and Section 301 tariffs) designed to protect domestic industries and enforce trade policy.
HTSUS 9903.01.33 does not apply to Germany.
These measures target specific countries (China, Russia, and others subject to punitive tariffs).
Germany, as part of the European Union and a Most Favored Nation (MFN) trading partner, is not subject to these additional duties under 9903.01.33.
Imports from Germany are assessed only under their normal HTS classification (e.g., 2.5% for auto parts, 0% for certain electrical goods) without the extra Chapter 99 surcharge.

9903.94.53
HTSUS tariff number 9903.94.53 applies to parts of passenger vehicles and light trucks that are products of the European Union. It imposes a 15% ad valorem duty on these goods when their normal duty rate under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule is less than 15%.
HTSUS 9903.94.53 is a penalty tariff line targeting EU-origin auto parts, raising their duty rate to 15% if the normal HTS rate is lower. It is part of U.S. trade enforcement actions under Chapter 99.
This appears to be a valid tariff charge, since Germany is a member of the EU.

9903.74.11
HTSUS 9903.74.11 is a penalty tariff line targeting Chinese-origin goods, adding 7.5% extra duty on top of the normal HTS rate. It remains active in the 2025 Harmonized Tariff Schedule as part of ongoing Section 301 measures.
The products at issue originated from Germany. HTSUS 9903.74.11 is clearly inapplicable.

8708.80.6590
HTSUS tariff number 8708.80.6590 covers other suspension system parts (other than beam hangers) for motor vehicles of headings 8701 to 8705. The general duty rate is 2.5% ad valorem, with free entry for many trade agreement countries (including Germany).
HTSUS 8708.80.6590 is used for suspension system parts (other than beam hangers) for motor vehicles. Imports from Germany are duty-free under this provision.

Finally, the attached Rating Sheet indicates the Export Country is DE. It is paramount to understand DE is the well-established abbreviation for Deutschland (DE) or Germany. As such, all tariffs for this package should be calculated with respect to Germany, which is a Most Favored Nation (MFN) trading partner of the United States.

Needless to say, reaching these people is a nightmare. I've sent emails and some of them have bounced back.

I'll see what happens on Monday.

 

It really is all ridiculous. Not only are most of the tariffs stupid, but there's no incentive at all for them to get it correct or fix any problems. You should charge them for the amount of work you need to do to figure this all out and get them to correct their mistakes, they'll end up having to pay you to take the stuff.

 

Well, here's an update.

The delivery guy arrived at 12:38pm with the product but I refused to accept it because of the excessive tariff.

After sending about 10 emails (some of which bounced back), I finally got a reply at 3:40pm indicating my tariff was reduced to $84. Still high, imo, but I believe that may include a third-party broker fee. So, it's probably correct given the circumstances.
In the email, I was instructed to call a number to make my payment by phone since the "website" doesn't immediately update. Sure ok. We'll it's now 6:55pm. I've been on hold for over an hour now! Will anyone ever pick up? (Mind you I've been trying to contact someone all afternoon).

Frustration is the order of the day cause the delivery man left with my package, and who knows what they've done with it since he entered a notation that customer "refused and doesn't want the package". Did they send it back? Who the hell knows!!!

 

Just to close this out, I did get the tariff reduced. I finally have my parts and will install them in the spring. For now, the car is down for the winter.

Cheers!

 

what a headache! glad you got it sorted but seems like you spent a lot of man hours doing so.

i just hope u dont have to send them back for some reason

 

I think I ordered the same cables from Valiant Ecosse? UPS delivery, just under $600 Euros with a $350 tariff. I paid the fee but am going to look into trying to get it lowered. Can you tell me what documents/codes you used to clarify for UPS? So nervous about my package coming from Velocity AP/Canada. These tariffs are ridiculous.