Customs Duties
[Last Updated: July 24, 2026]
Will I have to pay customs or import charges for my order?
Yes. U.S. import duty applies to every shipment from Japan, regardless of the order amount. Duty is assessed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and collected by the shipping carrier (FedEx or DHL) at the time of delivery — it is not included in your order total and is not charged by Bass-Tokyo.
How much will it be?
For goods made in Japan, U.S. import duty is currently capped at a combined 12.5% of the item price. This total is made up of the standard product duty (HTS/MFN rate) for the item category plus a Section 301 (forced labor) tariff that took effect on July 24, 2026 — together they are capped at 12.5%. Current estimates for the products we sell:
| Product category | HTS code | Product duty (HTS/MFN) | Section 301 | Estimated total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fishing reels | 9507.30.60 | 3.9% | +8.6% | 12.5% |
| Camera lenses | 9002.11.90 | 2.3% | +10.2% | 12.5% |
| Digital cameras | 8525.89.40 | Free (0%) | +12.5% | 12.5% |
| Other items (fishing line, etc.) | varies | determined by CBP | — | up to 12.5% |
Example: a $500.00 fishing reel → $62.50 estimated duty (12.5% of the item price).
You will also see this estimate on every product page and in your cart before you check out.
What changed on July 24, 2026?
- The Section 122 import surcharge (10%) has ended. The temporary 10% surcharge that had applied to goods from every country since February 24, 2026 expired on July 24, 2026.
- Section 301 (forced labor) tariffs took effect the same day. For goods of Japan, the U.S. applies a combined cap: where a product's standard MFN duty is below 12.5%, the MFN duty plus Section 301 add up to 12.5% (customs code 9903.05.49); where the MFN duty is already 12.5% or higher, no Section 301 is added (customs code 9903.05.48). Every category we sell lands at 12.5%.
- Product duty (HTS / MFN rate) — the standard U.S. duty rate for each category is unchanged; it is now counted as part of the 12.5% cap rather than added on top of the old surcharge.
Will my order be subject to the high 50% steel/aluminum tariff?
No. U.S. Customs briefly applied a 50% Section 232 tariff to fishing reels because of their aluminum content, but this has been officially resolved.
Under the Presidential Proclamation effective April 6, 2026, fishing reels (HS Code 9507.30) were explicitly added to the Exemption List (Annex II) and are exempt from the 50% Section 232 tariffs. Digital cameras (8525.89) and camera lenses (9002.11) are not on the Section 232 lists and are not subject to these additional duties. Goods covered by Section 232 are also excluded from the Section 301 action, so there is no double-counting.
Official White House announcement: Strengthening Actions Taken to Adjust Imports of Aluminum, Steel, and Copper
If you believe a 50% rate has been charged in error, please contact us or the carrier to request a correction due to a customs classification error.
Are there any other fees?
In addition to duty, the carrier may charge a small customs clearance, brokerage, or disbursement fee, and CBP may apply a Merchandise Processing Fee. These are typically minor compared with the duty itself.
Important
- The figures on this page are estimates. The final duty rate and tariff classification are determined solely by CBP at the time of entry.
- U.S. trade policy is changing rapidly. Rates may change between the time you place your order and the time it clears customs.
- Import duties and related fees are the responsibility of the recipient.
- You can verify current rates at the official U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule or with U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Questions? Email us at contact@arc-theplus.co.jp with your order number and we will help where we can.