US import rules for our products include a number of additional tariffs and penalty duties that significantly increase the real cost of sending orders from Australia to US customers.
To keep US orders viable while still trying to keep prices reasonable for our customers, we apply a small US tariff surcharge at checkout on orders that ship to a US address. This page explains what that surcharge is and why it appears on your order.
Summary – How US Orders Are Priced
- Our store prices are set in Australian dollars (AUD). Our website uses a currency converter which is an estimated price in USD.
- All payments are made in AUD and the USD price shown is an estimate utilising up to date currency conversions.
- For US shipping addresses, we now charge a fee labelled: US Import Tariff Fee
- This surcharge is currently set at approximately 10% of the goods subtotal Plus the 3rd Party Fee’s we are required to pay to process the Tariffs.
The US tariff surcharge is not a tax charged directly by the US government.
It is an additional fee set by Plaig Bearings to offset the extra costs we incur in
sending our products to the United States under the current tariff rules.
Why Is There a US Tariff Surcharge?
When we obtain import quotations for consignments classified as
“Ball bearings, steel”, the system applies several US duties and
penalty tariffs. These are based on US trade measures such as Section 301, Section 232 and
IEEPA-related tariffs. They are set by US law, not by Plaig Bearings.
The example below is taken from an actual quotation we received for a small shipment of steel
ball bearings Valued at $100 USD:
Example: duties on a small shipment of steel ball bearings
| Duty | Description | Postal shipment* | Commercial shipment* |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 % cost | 2018 Section 301 Tariffs | 0.00 USD | 25.00 USD |
| 9 % cost | General Rate | 0.00 USD | 9.00 USD |
| 10 % cost | US 10% IEEPA Tariff (Fentanyl-related penalty tariffs, postal shipment under $800) | 10.00 USD | 0.00 USD |
| 10 % cost | US 10% IEEPA Tariff (postal shipment under $800) | 10.00 USD | 0.00 USD |
| 25 % cost | US Section 232 Tariffs – Automotive parts and automobiles | 0.00 USD | 25.00 USD |
| *Totals in this example exclude carrier-specific fees and our own costs. | 20.00 USD | 59.00 USD | |
For a small postal shipment, the duties alone can be around
20 USD on a 100 USD order. For commercial courier shipments the
combined tariffs can reach around 59 USD for the same goods value, before
adding:
- International postage and insurance
- Handling / clearance fees charged by couriers or duty platforms
- Our own packing and administration time
Because many of our products are low-value, high-precision parts ordered in small quantities,
these additional amounts can easily approach or exceed the value of the bearings themselves. The
10% US tariff surcharge helps us share part of this burden with US customers so that we can
continue to offer US shipping at all, while still absorbing a portion of the cost ourselves.
Will the Surcharge Change?
US trade rules and tariff rates can change over time. We may review the level of the US tariff
surcharge in the future if duties increase or decrease, or if the cost structure of shipping to
the US changes significantly. Any changes will be reflected on this page and in the surcharge
label shown at checkout.
Questions?
If you have any questions about how the US tariff surcharge is applied to your order, please
contact us. While we cannot provide legal or customs advice, we are happy
to explain how our pricing works and what you can expect to see at checkout.
Thank you for your understanding and for your support of Plaig Bearings from the United States.