(Effective from August 29, 2025)
Important update on U.S. import rules
As of August 29, 2025, the United States ended the “de minimis” duty exemption, which previously allowed many shipments under $800 USD to enter the U.S. without customs duties or taxes.
This means that all shipments entering the United States can be subject to customs duties, tariffs, and import-related fees — regardless of order value.
We ship all U.S. orders under DAP (Delivered At Place) terms, which means:
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We pay for shipping to your address
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You, the customer, are responsible for paying all U.S. customs duties, tariffs, taxes, and clearance/processing fees upon import
Your shipment is typically released into the U.S. import system before delivery, and the courier (FedEx, DHL, UPS, etc.) may send you an invoice for the required import charges. These must be paid before or at delivery.
⚠️ Unpaid duties & refused shipments
If a shipment is delivered or released into the U.S. but the customs charges are not paid, or the shipment is refused, U.S. Customs and/or the courier may charge those duties and fees back to the sender (us) — and we will invoice the customer for reimbursement.
We kindly ask our dear U.S. customers to please decide in advance whether they wish to order under these conditions.
If you choose to order from us, we are truly thankful for your support during this challenging time for importing into the U.S. ❤️
Please just be aware and prepared that additional customs and courier fees may apply and must be paid to receive the shipment.
💡 U.S. customers pay 0% VAT — this matters
Unlike customers in the European Union, who typically pay 20–25% VAT on top of the product price, U.S. customers pay 0% VAT when ordering from us.
This means:
Even after paying U.S. import duties and courier fees, some U.S. customers still end up paying a similar or even lower total than EU customers, who must pay VAT on every order.
This is often overlooked when comparing prices.
🧾 High tariffs that can affect aluminum & steel parts
Many of our performance parts are made from aluminum and/or steel. The U.S. currently applies very high tariffs on most imported aluminum and steel goods and their derivatives, especially if they fall under the Section 232 tariff provisions.
Current tariff rates (approximate):
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Aluminum products and many aluminum derivative parts: 50 % tariff on the declared customs value.
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Steel products and many steel derivative parts: 50 % tariff on the declared customs value.
These are ad valorem tariffs (i.e., a percentage of the product’s declared customs value), and they apply before any additional courier fees.
Keep in mind that certain categories, classifications, or trade agreements may result in different tariffs, so the exact rate on your specific item may vary.
📊 How to roughly estimate your import cost
To get a reasonable estimate before ordering:
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Start with your order subtotal (product price)
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Add an approximate 50 % duty (for aluminum or steel products that fall into those categories). For other items it is usually much less - likely 3-10%.
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Add courier customs processing / brokerage fees
Example:
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Product price: $150
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Estimated tariff (50%): ~$75
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Customs/broker fee: ~$20–30
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Estimated total import charges: ~$95–105
You can also use tools such as ChatGPT or other AI tools by entering:
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product description including material that it is made out of
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price - from order
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country of origin - Slovakia
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and, if known, the HS code - usually AI will tell you correct HS code of item based on describtion
These tools can provide a rough estimate, but U.S. Customs and the courier make the final determination.
📦 Courier customs & brokerage fees
In addition to U.S. import duties, couriers usually charge a customs processing / brokerage / disbursement fee for handling the import and advancing duties.
This is typically around $20–30 USD, but can vary depending on carrier, service, and duty amount.
This fee is separate from the duty itself and is paid to the courier.
⚖️ Important disclaimer
This page is provided for general information only.
U.S. customs rules, tariff rates, and import procedures change frequently and may also differ by product type, courier, port of entry, or even U.S. state.
We cannot guarantee that the information on this page is always fully up to date or that it will match the exact charges applied to your shipment.
We are not responsible for any differences between this information and the fees charged by U.S. Customs or the courier.
We strongly recommend that you do your own research before ordering or consult your local customs office or courier if you need precise figures.
🇺🇸 Final note to our U.S. customers
We truly value and appreciate our U.S. MX-5 community and every customer who continues to support us despite these new trade barriers. ❤️
Your support helps keep independent European manufacturing alive.
Thank you for your understanding and trust.