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Guides & Resources

Zentria Flow Blog

Plain-English guides on HS codes, tariffs, import duties, and compliance — written for importers worldwide.

Tariff CalculatorReciprocal TariffsChina Tariffs 2026Canada Tariffs 2026Mexico Tariffs 2026India Tariffs 2026EU Tariffs 2026Vietnam TariffsJapan TariffsHS Code LookupLanded Cost CalculatorWhat Is Landed CostIncoterms GuideSection 301 TariffsDuty DrawbackDe Minimis RuleCompliance Software
Tariff Update

Section 122 Import Surcharge — IEEPA Struck Down, What Replaced It

IEEPA was struck down by the Supreme Court on Feb 20, 2026. The 10% flat Section 122 surcharge (Trade Act of 1974) now applies to all US imports. China goods also face Section 301 (7.5–25%). Calculate your correct 2026 duty total.

June 20268 min read
Import Basics

What Is Landed Cost? Definition, Formula & Calculator

Landed cost is the total cost of a product delivered to your warehouse — product price, freight, customs duty, surcharges, and more. Formula, worked example, and free calculator.

May 20267 min read
Trade Basics

Incoterms 2020 Explained: Complete Guide for Importers

FOB, CIF, DDP, DAP — Incoterms determine who pays freight, who holds insurance, and when risk transfers. All 11 terms with a FOB vs CIF comparison.

May 20269 min read
Import Guide

How to Calculate Import Duty: Step-by-Step Guide 2026

Import duty = customs value × duty rate + applicable surcharges. This step-by-step guide covers every component with a worked example and free calculator.

May 20268 min read
Tariff Basics

How Are Tariffs Calculated? Step-by-Step Import Duty Guide

MFN duty rate × customs value + applicable surcharges. This guide covers the full formula for calculating import tariffs, with a worked example and free calculator.

May 20266 min read
Customs & Compliance

Are Import Duties the Same as Tariffs?

Almost, but not exactly. Confusing them can lead to under-declared shipments and surprise invoices. Here's the clear distinction importers need to know.

May 20265 min read
Import Cost Recovery

Duty Drawback: How to Recover Up to 99% of Your Import Duties

Customs authorities allow importers to reclaim up to 99% of duties on goods that are re-exported or destroyed. Most eligible companies never file. Here's how.

May 20267 min read
Customs Exemptions

De Minimis Rule 2026 — Duty-Free Threshold & Global Guide

Many countries offer a duty-free threshold for low-value imports. 2026 policy changes mean eligibility has tightened in major markets. Country-by-country breakdown.

May 20266 min read
HS Code Guides

HS Codes for Clothing & Apparel — Complete 2026 Reference

Find the correct HS code for every clothing category — t-shirts, dresses, outerwear, footwear, and more. Includes duty rates and a free AI lookup tool.

May 20266 min read
Tariff Policy

Liberation Day & Reciprocal Tariffs — 2025/2026 Complete Guide

April 2025: US imposed country-specific reciprocal tariffs. China peaked at 145%. Most countries paused to 10% baseline. Full timeline, country rates, and impact on your imports.

May 20268 min read
Country Tariff Guides

EU Tariffs 2026 — Import Duty Rates on Goods into Europe

EU Common Customs Tariff (CCT) duty rates by HS code, VAT rates per country, and free trade agreement opportunities for goods imported into the European Union.

May 20266 min read
Shopify Guide

Shopify Landed Cost: Know Your True Import Cost Before You Price

Shopify merchants sourcing overseas often underestimate landed cost by 40–60%. This guide covers the full calculation with a worked example.

May 20266 min read
Classification Guide

HS Code Lookup Guide: How to Find Any HS or HTS Code

Three methods to look up any HS code — AI description, product photo, or manual search. Includes chapter overview, rate examples, and tips for accurate classification.

May 20267 min read
Integrations

WooCommerce Supply Chain Management: Automate Landed Cost & Customs Checks

Connect your WooCommerce store to Zentria Flow and automatically calculate landed costs, HS codes, and duty estimates for every new order — no manual lookup required.

May 20266 min read
Integrations

İkas Supply Chain Management: HS Code & Landed Cost Automation for Turkish E-commerce

Connect your İkas store to Zentria Flow and automatically calculate HS codes, landed costs, and duty estimates for every order — built for Turkish e-commerce merchants.

May 20265 min read
Developer API

Landed Cost API: Embed Import Duty Calculation in Your App

The Zentria Flow Landed Cost API returns a complete cost breakdown — duty, VAT, freight surcharges, Section 301 + §122 surcharge stacking — in a single REST call. Sandbox free, 100 calls/month, no card.

May 20266 min read
Developer API

HS Code Classification API: Automate Tariff Classification Programmatically

Send a product name, description, or image URL and get back a validated 6-digit HS code with 8-digit HTS extension, duty rate, and country-specific VAT — via REST API. Sub-500ms median latency.

May 20265 min read
Developer API

US-China Tariff API: §122 + Section 301 Duty Stack Calculator

The US-China duty API returns real-time stacked rates: MFN base + Section 301 (7.5–25%) + §122 flat 10% surcharge. IEEPA struck down Feb 2026 — §122 replaced it. One call, correct 2026 total.

June 20265 min read
Import Guide

Anti-Dumping Duties: What Every Importer Must Know in 2026

Anti-dumping duties can add 20%–300% on top of normal MFN rates — yet many importers miss them entirely. How to identify, check, and factor anti-dumping into your landed cost before the shipment arrives.

May 20267 min read
Import Basics

Customs Valuation Explained: How Your Import Duty Base is Calculated

Customs duty isn't calculated on the invoice price alone. Transaction value, CIF adjustments, royalties, assists — all can change your duty base. The 6 WTO valuation methods explained with worked examples.

May 20268 min read
Cost Reduction

Free Trade Agreements: How to Qualify for 0% Import Duty

FTAs can cut your import duty to 0% — but only if you meet origin rules. Rules of origin, substantial transformation, and documentation requirements explained for USMCA, EU GSP, and CPTPP.

May 20269 min read
Compliance

Import Compliance Checklist: 10 Steps Before Your Shipment Arrives

Most customs problems — delays, exams, penalties — are caused by documentation errors that are entirely preventable. The 10-step pre-arrival checklist that professional importers run on every shipment.

May 20266 min read
China Tariffs

What Is Section 301? The China Tariff List Explained

Section 301 tariffs add 7.5%–25% on top of normal duties for Chinese-origin goods across four lists. If you import from China, this is almost certainly affecting your landed cost.

May 20265 min read
Customs & Classification

HTS Code vs HS Code: What's the Difference?

HS codes and HTS codes look similar but serve different purposes. The difference matters when filing US customs entries.

May 20264 min read
Customs & Classification

What is an HTS Code? Harmonized Tariff Schedule Codes Explained

An HTS code is the 10-digit number US Customs uses to classify every imported product. It determines your duty rate, FTA eligibility, and import restrictions.

May 20265 min read
Tariff Reference

Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) — US Import Code Guide

The US HTS assigns a 10-digit code to every importable product and determines the duty rate, quota, and FTA eligibility. All 99 chapters explained.

May 20265 min read
China Tariffs

China Tariffs 2026 — Current US Import Duty Rates & Section 301 Guide

Section 301 tariffs on Chinese goods remain at 7.5%–25% across four lists. This guide covers every list, product-level rates, and de minimis changes.

May 20267 min read
Country Tariff Guides

Vietnam Tariffs 2026 — US Import Duty Rates by HS Code

Vietnam has no FTA with the US — most goods pay MFN rates (0–32%). Anti-dumping orders affect furniture, shrimp, and steel.

May 20266 min read
Country Tariff Guides

Japan Tariffs 2026 — US Import Duty Rates by HS Code

Japanese electronics enter the US at 0% under the IT Agreement, but cars face 27.5% (§232), and steel 25%.

May 20265 min read
Country Tariff Guides

Taiwan Tariffs 2026 — US Import Duty Rates & Sourcing Guide

Taiwan's semiconductors and electronics enter the US at 0% — no Section 301. A direct comparison vs China sourcing.

May 20265 min read
Country Tariff Guides

Thailand Tariffs 2026 — US Import Duty Rates by HS Code

Thailand has no Section 301 surcharges — a key advantage over China sourcing. Electronics enter at 0% (IT Agreement).

May 20265 min read
Country Tariff Guides

South Korea Tariffs 2026 — KORUS FTA, 0% Electronics & Import Duty Guide

Most South Korean goods enter the US at 0% under the KORUS FTA. Best FTA coverage in Asia.

May 20266 min read
Country Tariff Guides

Indonesia Tariffs 2026 — Liberation Day 32% Rate, Import Duties & Sourcing Guide

Indonesia was assigned a 32% Liberation Day tariff (paused to 10%). Key exports: apparel, furniture, shrimp, nickel.

May 20266 min read
HS Code Guides

FedEx HS Code Lookup — Customs Classification for FedEx Shipments

How to find and use HS codes for FedEx international shipments. Avoid customs delays and penalties with correct classification.

May 20264 min read
HS Code Guides

USPS HS Code Lookup — Customs Codes for USPS International Mail

Correct HS codes are required for all USPS international shipments. How to find the right code and avoid customs holds.

May 20264 min read
HS Code Guides

DHL HS Code Lookup — Harmonized Codes for DHL Shipments

DHL requires accurate HS codes on all commercial invoices. How to find the right code to avoid delays and penalties.

May 20264 min read
HS Code Guides

HS Codes for Electronics 2026 — Laptops, Phones, TVs, Headphones

Complete HS / HTS code reference for electronics imports. Covers 26 categories including laptops (8471.30), smartphones (8517.13), headphones (8518.30), chargers, drones — with US MFN rates and Section 301 surcharges.

May 20266 min read
Customs Guides

CBP Form 7501 — US Customs Entry Summary Explained

Form 7501 is the document that declares your imported merchandise, calculates duties, and clears cargo through US customs. Every field, every deadline, and the 5 most costly filing errors explained.

May 20267 min read
Customs Guides

Import Duty from China to the UK — UKGT Rates, 20% VAT & the £135 Rule

No UK–China FTA means every Chinese import pays the full UK Global Tariff plus 20% import VAT. Rates by product, the £135 threshold, anti-dumping traps, and a worked example from Guangzhou to Felixstowe.

July 20268 min read
Customs Guides

How Much Is Import Tax in Indonesia? Duty + 11% PPN + PPh 22 Explained

Indonesia stacks three taxes on every import: duty (0–50%), 11% VAT, and 2.5–10% income tax at the border — with a USD 3 de minimis, the world's lowest. Full formula and worked example.

July 20267 min read
Customs Guides

Import Duty on Jewelry from India to USA — Gold, Silver & Diamond Rates

Gold jewelry 5–5.8%, imitation 11%, loose diamonds 0% — plus the 10% §122 surcharge. De minimis rules, FTC marking requirements, and the valuation traps CBP audits on the India corridor.

July 20267 min read
Customs Guides

Import Fees from Canada to US — USMCA 0% vs §122 Explained

The same product crosses the Canada–US border at 0% or 22%+ depending on one document. USMCA certification, the $800 de minimis, MPF exemptions, and the reverse US→Canada rules.

July 20268 min read
Customs Guides

Car Import Duty — USA, Canada & UK Corridors Compared

US→Canada with RIV and GST, Japan→UK classics at 0% duty + 5% VAT, the US 25-year rule and the 25% chicken tax on trucks. Every major corridor with worked examples.

July 20269 min read
Customs Guides

Import Tax from Japan to US — Figures, Cameras, JDM Parts & Cars

Most Japan purchases are 0% duty and under-$800 orders enter free. The catches: the §122 surcharge on larger orders, compound watch rates, and the 27.5% wall on complete cars.

July 20267 min read
Customs Guides

Customs Duty in India — From UK, Canada & USA: BCD + IGST Explained

India stacks Basic Customs Duty, a 10% surcharge and IGST up to 28% — a typical consumer product lands 44% above invoice. The formula, the ₹5,000 gift trap, and Transfer of Residence rules.

July 20268 min read
Customs Guides

Import Duty from Europe to US — Germany & Italy Rates + §122

German machinery at 0–2.5%, Italian leather at 5–10%, cars at 27.5% with §232 — plus the 10% §122 surcharge. No US VAT, but don't pay EU VAT on exports. Worked examples included.

July 20267 min read
Customs Guides

Import Duty from USA to UK — UKGT Rates, 20% VAT & Courier Fees

Duty is the small part — the real costs are 20% VAT on the whole landed value and the courier's £8–£12 handling fee. The £135 rule and how to avoid double-paying US sales tax.

July 20267 min read
HS Code Guides

Plastic Products HS Codes — 3926.90 Duty Rate & Chapter 39 Guide

3926.90 is world trade's favorite catch-all — and customs' favorite challenge. The Chapter 39 code map with US/EU rates, the 40% China stack, and when plastic items classify outside Chapter 39 entirely.

July 20266 min read
Landed Cost

Free Landed Cost Excel Template — Working Formulas + Duty Stack

A real .xlsx download, no email wall: enter seven numbers and the full 2026 duty stack, MPF/HMF bounds, VAT and per-unit landed cost calculate automatically. Every formula explained line by line.

July 20266 min read
Landed Cost

Landed Cost vs COGS — What Goes Where, With Accounting Table

Freight-in capitalizes, freight-out expenses, duty goes into inventory — and reclaimable VAT belongs in neither. The classification table that makes imported-goods margins readable again.

July 20267 min read
Landed Cost

Profit Margin on Imported Products — Formula, Margin vs Markup, Targets

Two mistakes destroy import margins before the first sale: pricing off the invoice instead of landed cost, and confusing markup with margin. The correct formula and realistic targets per channel.

July 20267 min read
Landed Cost

Is Your Import Business Profitable? Unit Economics That Tell the Truth

Revenue up, P&L smiling, bank account shrinking. Three margin levels per SKU, break-even math, the cash-vs-P&L gap, and five silent profit leaks blended numbers can't show.

July 20268 min read
HS Code Guides

HS Codes for Furniture 2026 — Sofas, Chairs, Beds, Mattresses & More

Complete HTS code reference for furniture imports. 25% Section 301 on most China-sourced furniture, plus anti-dumping duties on wooden bedroom furniture (A-570-890) and mattresses (A-570-095). Sourcing alternatives included.

May 20266 min read
HS Code Guides

HS Codes for Footwear 2026 — Shoes, Boots, Sneakers & Sandals

Chapter 64 HTS code reference for footwear imports. Athletic sneakers face 27.5% (20% MFN + 7.5% S301). Waterproof rubber boots hit 62.5% combined duty from China. Sourcing alternatives in Vietnam, Bangladesh, and Indonesia.

May 20266 min read
Customs Guides

Commercial Invoice for Customs: CBP Requirements & Complete Guide 2026

The 16 required CBP fields on a commercial invoice, 6 errors that trigger exam holds, and how customs value is calculated from your invoice. Avoid 19 USC 1592 penalties — up to 4× unpaid duties for fraud.

May 20267 min read
Country Tariff Guides

Mexico Tariffs 2026 — US Import Duty Rates, USMCA & IEEPA Guide

USMCA-compliant goods from Mexico enter the US at 0%. Non-compliant goods face a 25% IEEPA tariff. Full guide + calculator.

May 20267 min read
Country Tariff Guides

Canada Tariffs 2026 — US Import Duty Rates, USMCA & IEEPA Guide

USMCA-qualifying Canadian goods enter the US at 0%. Non-USMCA goods face 25% IEEPA (10% for energy). Complete 2026 guide + free calculator.

May 20267 min read
Country Tariff Guides

India Tariffs 2026 — US Import Duty Rates, Reciprocal Tariff & Trade Deal Guide

India faces a 10% reciprocal tariff baseline plus MFN rates. No US-India FTA. US-India trade deal under negotiation.

May 20267 min read
Country Tariff Guides

Brazil Tariffs 2026 — US Import Duty Rates, Reciprocal Tariff & Sourcing Guide

Brazil faces a 10% US reciprocal tariff baseline. Key exports — aircraft (Embraer), agricultural goods, footwear, and steel. No US-Brazil FTA. Full guide with duty calculator.

May 20266 min read
US Trade Policy

Section 232 Steel & Aluminum Tariffs 2026 — 25% on Steel, 25% on Aluminum

Section 232 tariffs impose 25% on imported steel and 25% on imported aluminum globally. How it stacks with Section 301 and IEEPA for China-origin metal, and which FTA exclusions still apply.

May 20266 min read
Developer API

Tariff API vs Manual Spreadsheet: The Real Cost of DIY Duty Calculation

Maintaining a manual tariff spreadsheet for 70+ countries costs 15–40 hours/month in researcher time — and still misses §122 updates, anti-dumping orders, and FTA changes. What a tariff API actually saves you.

May 20265 min read
Developer API

MCP Server for Trade Data: Let Claude Query Your Import Costs Directly

Zentria Flow's MCP server lets Claude and other AI assistants query live tariff rates, HS codes, and landed cost calculations. Set up in 5 minutes — no custom integration required.

May 20265 min read
China Tariffs

US-China Tariff Update 2026: IEEPA Out, §122 + Section 301 In

The Supreme Court struck down IEEPA tariffs on Feb 20, 2026. What replaced them, how Section 301 interacts with §122, and what this means for your China-sourced landed cost calculation.

May 20266 min read
Import Fees

US Maritime Vessel Fee: How It Affects Your Landed Cost in 2026

New USTR rules impose vessel fees on Chinese-built ships calling at US ports. How the fee is calculated, which shipments are affected, and how to factor it into your landed cost estimate.

June 20265 min read

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