Trump Tariffs for the USA

For those of us residing in the USA: If you purchase anything from outside of the country, expect to pay tariffs.  

USA Trump Tariff Quick Reference:

• Volks Japan (via DHL):
• Dollfie Dreams Country of Origin (COO): Made in Japan = 15% tariff
• Listed as HS/HTS Code 9503.0000.90 (Toys, Dolls, Scale Models, Parts & Accessories) = 0% additional tariff

 

• Dollfie Dream Outfits COO: Made in China = 30% tariff
• Listed as HS/HTS Code 9503.0000.90 = 0% additional tariff

 

1. Customs fee will be billed to you by DHL after shipment, but before delivery. 
2. Payment due within 5 days or item will be returned to sender.
3. Cost to you:  Tariff + DHL Fee + Regulatory Charge

15% tariff (Dolls) + 30% tariff (Outfits) + $17 or 2% of duty amount (whichever is greater) + $1.31 flat charge

• Volks Japan (via EMS):
  • Currently not available.  Japan Post has suspended package shipments to the USA (with only minor exceptions).

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Background Information: "De minimus"

Under Donald Trump's order, on the morning of August 29, 2025, the United States ended de minimus ($800 or less) treatment for packages from any country being shipped to the USA.  De minimus allowed shipments valued at $800 US or less to enter the United States duty-free, with a simplified customs process.  The reasoning behind it was that the tariffs for low value items wouldn't be worth the work required to collect the tariffs.  Initially this year, under Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill that Congress passed, they sought to end de minimus on July 1, 2027.  However, on July 30, 2025, Trump abruptly decided to give just a 1-month warning and set August 29, 2025 as the new end date for de minimus entry.  

Legality of it all

Judges have ruled many of his reciprocal tariffs to be illegal, but they have allowed them to stand for now.  The issue will be heard by the US Supreme Court, starting on November 5, 2025. There is the possibility of refunds being issued for the tariffs paid (but not the processing fees) depending upon the Supreme Court's ruling.

Warning about Steel/Copper/Aluminum items:

Items listed under one of the HTS Steel, Copper, or Aluminum categories will be subject to a 50% tariff.  Even if the shipper lists it under a different category, there is a risk that the shipping company or Customs Border Protection may reclassify the product, especially if they inspect your package.  So be cautious of ordering things like the metal Volks Doll Stands.  

Mistakes in Duty Calculations by DHL

On occasion, people have been receiving Customs bills from DHL in the thousands of dollars range for items worth only a few hundred dollars or less.  This typically stems from the Japanese Yen amount being mistakenly used as US Dollars.  So a 10,000yen item (~$68 US) gets tariffed as if it were $10,000 US.

People have had more success in getting their bill corrected using the following DHL contact number: 866-638-7668

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Information for shipments from other stores:

 

(Trump Tax) Reciprocal Tariff Rates:

• Made in Japan             15% tariff
• Made in (South) Korea 15% tariff
• Made in Vietnam         20% tariff
• Made in China     34% 30% tariff

 

HS/HTS Tariffs

• For Japan only (as of Sept. 16, 2025, retroactive to Aug. 7, 2025): 
  • If an item has an additional MFN (Most-Favored Nation) HTS tariff of 15% or less, then only the Reciprocal Tariff of 15% will apply.
    • Will use subheading: 9903.02.73
  • If an item has an additional MFN HTS tariff of more than 15%, then only the MFN HTS tariff will apply.
    • Will use subheading: 9903.02.72
• Volks Japan lists Dollfie Dreams and outfits as HTS code:
  • 9503.0000.90 (Toys, Dolls, Dolls' Carriages, Puzzles, Scale Models, Tricycles, Scooters, Pedal Cars And Similar Wheeled Toys, Parts And Accessories Thereof, Others)
  • This has a 0% HTS category tariff
• Smart Doll posted that they were listing their dolls as HTS code: 
  • 9703.0000.00 (Original sculptures and statuary) 
  • This has a 0% HTS category tariff & Trump exempted this category from reciprocal tariffs. 
  • Unfortunately, this categorization doesn't exactly meet some of the main qualifications set by US Customs:
    • Not mass-produced or commercially replicated, except in strictly limited editions
    • Recognized as fine art by established art markets, museums, and scholarly institutions
  • Smart Doll likely isn't listing it as "Limited Edition" or who the artwork was made by, thereby not qualifying to be an original sculpture/artwork.
  • Danny Choo has reported that DHL has been reclassifying Smart Doll shipments as Toys, subject to the 15% reciprocal tariffs.

 

Processing fees:

• DHL: $17 minimum or 2% of duty amount (whichever is greater) + $1.31 flat charge
• Fedex: Under $800: $4.50 or 2% of duty amount (whichever is greater) + $2.50 US clearance processing.  
•             Over $800: $14 or 2% of duty amount (whichever is greater) + $2.50 US clearance processing
• UPS: $14 or 2% of duty amount (whichever is greater) + $2.50 (starting Sep 8th)

 

• UPS (& likely DHL & FedEx): If the customs entry has more than 5 lines (5 different HTS codes), then they charge an extra $3 per line starting with the 6th line.   

 

How much will you pay (via courier, such as DHL, FedEx, UPS):

Expect to pay the Reciprocal Tariff + Any HTS Category Tariff + Excise Tax (usually not applicable to doll related items) + Courier Processing Fees

 

How much will you pay (via Postal Service, such as EMS, Airmail, Sea):

The Postal Service will be allowed to charge flat rates (per package) for the first 6 months

• Packages $800 or less, marked as Made in Japan or (South) Korea, will be subject to a flat $80 US tariff
• Packages $800 or less, marked as Made in Vietnam, will be subject to a flat $160 US tariff
• Packages $800 or less, marked as Made in China, will be subject to a flat $200 US tariff

What is different here is that the US wants the duty to be paid in advance by the shipper, as Customs & the US Postal Service are not equipped to handle such a large volume of tariff collections.  

Processing fees:

• Unknown; possibly $9; possibly charged to recipient

However, this is largely irrelevant right now, as countless countries have stopped shipping parcels via the Postal Service to the USA.  

 

Notes:

• From reports, it sounds like most packages that were shipped through a Postal Service by Sea before August 29, 2025, may still be allowed in under de minimus (duty-free).

I will try to update this as we get more info.  Corrections/additions welcome.

Edited 21 hours ago by nanika
9/30 Added metal products warning, multi-line fee info.

Actual example of a US Trump Tariff for a DD shipped by DHL from Volks Japan.

 

• Dollfie Dream Sister Frieren 2.0: 75,000yen
• Shipping: 14,050yen
• Insurance fee: 150yen
• Total: 89,200yen

 

Entered US Customs on 9/3/2025

 

(I thought the tariffs were calculated based on the total cost: Item + Insurance + Shipping, but I can't figure out how they got a US value of $522.38 listed on the customs invoice. That equates to ~77,312yen, based on the approx. 148yen/USD exchange rate when it went through customs.)

 

HTS Code used: 9503000090 (Toys, Dolls, Dolls' Carriages, Puzzles, Scale Models, Tricycles, Scooters, Pedal Cars And Similar Wheeled Toys, Parts And Accessories Thereof, Others)

So no extra HTS tariffs or excise duties.

 

Volks Japan shipped her to the USA by DHL.

 

1. The customs duty invoice listed her as worth $522.38 US.
   Products made in Japan have Trump's Reciprocal Tariff at 15%, so $522.38 x .15 = $78.36 US
2. DHL charges a processing fee of $17 or 2% of the duty (whichever is higher)
   $522.38 x .02 = $10.45. $17 is higher, so the charge is $17.
3. DHL Regulatory Charges of $1.31 (flat fee)

 

Total bill from DHL: $96.67 US

1 hour ago, nanika said:

 

However, this is largely irrelevant right now, as most asian countries have stopped shipping parcels via the Postal Service to the USA.  

 

Actually, make that "a large chunk" of the Universal Postal Union's members:

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/06/postal-traffic-us-plunges

Quote

Eighty-eight postal operators have told the UPU that they have suspended some or all postal service to the United States until a solution is implemented with regard to US-bound parcels valued at $800 or less, which had been the cutoff for imported goods to escape customs charges.

For reference, there are 192 countries in the world.

Effect (I've seen it described on myfigurecollection as a "self-embargo", more than 80% drop is HUGE):

Quote

“The global network saw postal traffic to the US come to a near-halt after the implementation of the new rules on Aug 29, 2025, which for the first time placed the burden of customs duty collection and remittance on transportation carriers or US Customs and Border Protection agency-approved qualified parties,” the UPU said in a statement.

The UPU said information exchanged among postal operators through its electronic network showed traffic from its 192 member countries – nearly all the world countries – had fallen 81% on 29 August, compared with a week earlier.

Edited September 9 by Kemonomimicry
fumbled the quotes

Adding a data point here. 

I bought two dollfie dream sister 2.0 bodies from Volks Japan sent with DHL.
The HTS code 9503000090 was used, but I was charged 30% duties instead of 15%.
My bill is $459.70 x 0.3 = $137.91 plus the $17 dollar processing fee and $1.31 regulatory charge for a total of $156.22.

I called DHL this morning only to be put on hold for nearly 40 minutes while they "looked into it". They confirmed on the phone that the charge was incorrect as Japan should have the 15% duty, then told me to email the duty disputes team (I had already emailed them before the call)...Hopefully they will be able to correct it to the 15%, but in the meantime my package is being held from being released.

Apparently this is what I get for being impatient and not wanting to wait for the sister 2.0 bodies to come out on the US site ^.^; It's probably silly, but I also emailed Volks USA asking if they can confirm that dollfie dream bodies are in fact made in Japan.

On 9/15/2025 at 1:35 PM, kurimu said:

Adding a data point here. 

I bought two dollfie dream sister 2.0 bodies from Volks Japan sent with DHL.
The HTS code 9503000090 was used, but I was charged 30% duties instead of 15%.
My bill is $459.70 x 0.3 = $137.91 plus the $17 dollar processing fee and $1.31 regulatory charge for a total of $156.22.

I called DHL this morning only to be put on hold for nearly 40 minutes while they "looked into it". They confirmed on the phone that the charge was incorrect as Japan should have the 15% duty, then told me to email the duty disputes team (I had already emailed them before the call)...Hopefully they will be able to correct it to the 15%, but in the meantime my package is being held from being released.

Apparently this is what I get for being impatient and not wanting to wait for the sister 2.0 bodies to come out on the US site ^.^; It's probably silly, but I also emailed Volks USA asking if they can confirm that dollfie dream bodies are in fact made in Japan.

Two updates - Volks USA did confirm dollfies/dollfie dreams are manufactured in Japan, and most clothing is manufactured in China.

I called DHL again today since I've gotten no response to my email to the duty disputes team from last week, and they said my package would be returned if I didn't pay the fees today, so I had to pay the incorrect 30% duty :/ It sounds like my money is probably gone forever... I don't know how they can be allowed to send the package back when they acknowledge the amount owed is wrong

I've been charged twice by UPS for the new tarrifs, once from Mercari and once from a doll from Korea. Honestly the fees seem almost random and they refused to give a breakdown of how they arrived at the number. 

 

It's possible you were charged the 15% on both dolls individually but then they accidentally used the total of both to calculate it.

1 hour ago, Cydril said:

I've been charged twice by UPS for the new tarrifs, once from Mercari and once from a doll from Korea. Honestly the fees seem almost random and they refused to give a breakdown of how they arrived at the number. 

 

It's possible you were charged the 15% on both dolls individually but then they accidentally used the total of both to calculate it.

That's true; there's nothing saying what calculations they used to get to a number...just "pay now". That certainly is a possibility! I didn't want to risk anything being sent back, so that's probably how they rope people into paying whatever they ask ^^;

5 hours ago, kurimu said:

That's true; there's nothing saying what calculations they used to get to a number...just "pay now". That certainly is a possibility! I didn't want to risk anything being sent back, so that's probably how they rope people into paying whatever they ask ^^;

I've read that the US government website that lists the tariffs wasn't updated properly, so it still shows the old tariffs which were higher.

Also, lots of reports of incorrect currency conversions, where yen was read as USD.

UPS seems to be swamped with international packages entering the US, so there's been reports of delays, and there was a temporary halt on 9/22 (for a few days) to package acceptance in Japan.  

Avoid having any food, edible items, cosmetics, etc. in your shipments, as these seem to now require FDA clearance, so if the proper forms are not submitted ahead of time, your entire package may get destroyed.  There are multiple reports of this happening (particularly with UPS) to customers in the US.  

I updated the top post about a week ago.  Thank you for everyone's contributions.  

Are you kidding me?? I wish these people would all turn into trout. 

I might also warn people about purchasing metal items from Japan.  There is a 50% tariff on Steel, Copper, and Aluminum products.  So if an item gets listed with a HTS code related to those metal categories, or if DHL/UPS/FedEx/Customs reclassifies it as a steel product, it'll be subject to the 50% Trump Tariff.  So be careful of things like the Volks metal doll stands.    Some people have even had to pay the 50% Trump Tariff on things like metal keychains 😓.

Just for the record: DHL's processing fee is similar to the processing fee they charge to European customers.

I post this because on other forums people are raging about the "dishonest", "undocumented" fee they are "charging only to Americans" (which simply ain't true).

7 hours ago, Kemonomimicry said:

the processing fee they charge to European customers

There is a small caveat to this, if you have the ability to self declare shipments like we can in finland you get to do that without any extra service charges.

But the time window of having it done is pretty strict these days (I think it used to be seven days before and my latest was three days from arrival before they start charging for storage -- versus the 21 days it is for normal EMS/postal service time limits)

3 hours ago, finnleo said:

There is a small caveat to this, if you have the ability to self declare shipments like we can in finland you get to do that without any extra service charges.

But the time window of having it done is pretty strict these days (I think it used to be seven days before and my latest was three days from arrival before they start charging for storage -- versus the 21 days it is for normal EMS/postal service time limits)

This makes me think that with Fedex you can set up your credit card for import taxes and tariff payments, so once the payment date for the invoice comes it is automatically deducted from your credit card, and that waives the processing fee. Since that fee is 15 Euros per shipment, it quickly ends up saving a lot of money if you receive many packages through Fedex.