The quote that your Flexport team will share with you does not include customs-related costs, because the total cost of customs is unknown at the time of quoting.
The following customs charges are not included in your quote, but may appear on your invoice if determined to be applicable to your shipment:
- Harbor Maintenance Fee (HMF): The HMF is charged for products imported via ocean vessel to U.S. ports and is calculated at 0.125% of the commercial value of the goods as declared on the Commercial Invoice.
- Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF): The MPF is charged for most imports into the U.S. and is calculated at 0.3464% of the commercial value of the goods as declared on the commercial invoice, with a minimum value of $26.22 and a maximum of $508.70.
MPF may be waived for goods qualifying for certain Free Trade Agreements. - Customs Duties or Value-Added Tax (VAT): You can estimate the duties associated with your shipment if you know your product’s HTS code.
- Anti-Dumping (AD) and Countervailing Duties (CVD): Dumping occurs when foreign manufacturers sell goods in the U.S. at less than fair value. Countervailing cases occur when a foreign government provides enough subsidies and tax benefits for their manufacturers to sell their goods at a cheaper rate than U.S. manufacturers.
- Customs Exams: Shipments are pulled for customs exams at random and the associated costs are the responsibility of the importer.
- Partner Government Agency (PGA) Fee: If your product falls under the purview of a Partner Government Agency – such as the Food & Drug Administration (FDA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), or the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) – there is a small additional fee that will be listed on your invoice.
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