Effective August 29th 2025
As of 29th August 2025, the US government is ending the long-standing de minimis exemption for international shipments. This exemption was key in being able to send orders up to the value of $800 USD without incurring import tariffs for any of my US customers.
UPDATE: OCTOBER 2025
As of October 2025, Royal Mail has introduced a Delivery Duties Paid (DDP) option. Import fees/tariffs will now be displayed at purchase, and are payable when buying a prop from my site. This will be added onto the shipping option at checkout, and ensures that no fees are required when the item arrives in the USA.
What’s Changed?
With the repeal of this exemption, it means that any order shipped to the USA via Royal Mail/USPS may face a fixed tariff ranging from $80 to $200 per-item. This is unsustainable for my business, and so I’ve made the decision to remove Royal Mail as a shipping option for US orders. This does not affect Canada, or South American customers. After a 6 month transition period, all international imports will start using an ad valoram tariff charge.
New Shipping Courier: DPD
I have been searching for affordable courier services to the USA, and have decided to use DPD as the most affordable. What does this mean for you as a customer in the US? DPD are a private courier, so will avoid the flat-rate fee of $80-200 but will issue a brokerage fee plus an ad valorem tariff charge based on the current rate set against the UK by Trump. This rate is, as of writing, 10%. DPD will, therefore, apply the following:
- A tariff charge of 10% of your declared order value
- A brokerage fee between $12 and $15
What to Expect
- Until March 2026, all USA orders will be sent via DPD.
- Orders delivered before 29th August 2025 will remain tariff-free
- Orders delivered after 29th August 2025 will be subject to tariffs and brokerage fees regardless of when they were placed
I’m hoping to reintroduce Royal Mail as an option after the 6 months transition phase lapses in March 2026, when they will start using the percentage-based tariff model of ad valorem. Until then, DPD and other private couriers will be the only option for all USA parcels. If a more affordable courier option becomes available to me, then I will begin using that.
If you have any questions about shipping to the USA, please get in touch with me at: contact@darny3d.com
Thanks for your understanding during this difficult time.