tariff reporting.. no socio/politcal/etc commentary please :)

[burpod]

just so people area aware, even more new tariffs have gone into affect, and it's not good for us. aside from the bad euro/usd ... now apparently ordering things like turbos or injectors will get a 50% tariff. just talked to a guy who got some PD injectors from powertdi, and for 780euro + ~40euro shipping... tariff bill was a whopping $430 or so. completely insane. but i guess it was classified as steel/aluminum.

while its likely impossible to keep socio/political/etc comments out, i'd like this to only be for reporting on what you've paid when you get something from overseas and what the tariff bill was, say from xman, powertdi, muchboost, etc etc

in this particular case, a year ago, it would have been around 1.08 euro/usd, now is like 1.18, then add 50% on that and its pretty nuts

so just be aware of this.

if anyone orders stuff like turbos, inhectors, etc. and feel like posting what you paid USD and then tariff bill (or at least give the tariff % ) that would be great..

 

[turbocharged798]

Funny you posted this. I ordered a set of 3rd oversize ALH KS pistons from Kmotorshop in the Czech Republic and missed the deadline by like 2 hours. It was about $370 for the pistons shipped and got slapped with a $170 tariff bill from UPS. I nearly fell over when I saw that.

All my research pointed to a 20% rate for car parts but obviously I paid much more. Worst part is that I can't really get any explanation on what I got charged for, just pay the bill or we won't deliver you parts.

This is going to be a major problem for the euro car community in general.

 

[burpod]

Funny you posted this. I ordered a set of 3rd oversize ALH KS pistons from Kmotorshop in the Czech Republic and missed the deadline by like 2 hours. It was about $370 for the pistons shipped and got slapped with a $170 tariff bill from UPS. I nearly fell over when I saw that.

All my research pointed to a 20% rate for car parts but obviously I paid much more. Worst part is that I can't really get any explanation on what I got charged for, just pay the bill or we won't deliver you parts.

This is going to be a major problem for the euro car community in general.

yes it is. its very jumbled up now, and not in a good way sigh. i try to refrain from making commentary, but, mostly just want to be able to track prices here so people can see what they're dealing with when they order. a year ago i was paying ~5% tariff and like 1.08euro/usd.

 

[Nuje]

I shipped a used turbo from me (Canada) to a user here who's in Kansas. Shipped on August 16, but it hit the US on Aug30 - the day after the de minimus exemption (anything under $800USD was allowed into the US without hassle or extra fees) was ended.

UPS held it up for a couple days and he paid an extra $28USD, I think(?); instead of arriving on the originally promised Sept3, it just got there today (Sept9).

 

[Nuje]

All my research pointed to a 20% rate for car parts but obviously I paid much more. Worst part is that I can't really get any explanation on what I got charged for, just pay the bill or we won't deliver you parts.

I was just listening to CBC radio this evening and the did a story about how an outfit here in Canada that regularly sells to the US is getting wildly different assessments, with no explanation as to why.

Can't remember the exact numbers, but it was like, they shipped a $800 thing one day and got hit with a $250 surcharge; shipped the same thing the next day and it was over $500. A third day and it was a different number again. Always the same item; always completing the paperwork the same way.

As a FYI for fellow Canadians: Looks like if you ship by Canada Post, YOU (the shipper) have to pay the fees ahead of time (there's an app for that); if you use UPS (which I've done a couple times now since this has come into effect), you can point to the receiver as the one who has to pay the fees. BUT, you have to acknowledge / agree that if they don't, you have to pay the fees and pay the shipping cost back to you.

And lastly (from what I read in a news story), one can send gifts to friends without incurring duties. But if it's like the above seemingly random and arbitrary implementation of the rules....we'll have to wait and see if/how reliable that is.

 

[P2B]

As a FYI for fellow Canadians: Looks like if you ship by Canada Post, YOU (the shipper) have to pay the fees ahead of time (there's an app for that); if you use UPS (which I've done a couple times now since this has come into effect), you can point to the receiver as the one who has to pay the fees. BUT, you have to acknowledge / agree that if they don't, you have to pay the fees and pay the shipping cost back to you.

That makes zero sense. Tariffs are paid by the importer to the US government.

 

[Nuje]

Yep. That's how tariffs have always worked in the past.
And yet...

As stated here from Canada Post:
"Due to the U.S. Executive Order 14324, all U.S.-bound postal shipments must have duties collected at origin effective August 29, 2025. This means every package under US$800 going from Canada to the U.S. must have proof that duties were paid before the shipment can be accepted for delivery. This proof comes in the form of a Declaration ID – a 13-character code that confirms duties have been secured.

Starting August 29, 2025, Canada Post can only accept a U.S.-bound label request from a sender if it has proof that duty has been paid or automatic billing enabled. To support small businesses and merchants, Canada Post has partnered with Zonos® to meet the new Executive Order requirements to collect duties and remit them directly to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) with ease."

So, I guess **postal** shipments need to have import fees paid ahead of time (again - just...whiskey-tango-foxtrot?!!?), but if you use a non-postal carrier (UPS, FedEx), that carrier can be tasked with collecting the fees from the receiver (and applying their own fees on top of that for providing said service, of course).

 

[bmwM5power]

I purchased a radio screen from Canadian junkyard seller on Ebay for $100 back in August but it turned out to be faulty, the seller sent a replacement but then I got hit with the $42 tariffs from UPS. When I looked at the charge only $13 or so were the government fees the rest was a brokerage charge.

 

[P2B]

So, I guess **postal** shipments need to have import fees paid ahead of time (again - just...whiskey-tango-foxtrot?!!?), but if you use a non-postal carrier (UPS, FedEx), that carrier can be tasked with collecting the fees from the receiver (and applying their own fees on top of that for providing said service, of course).

Yup, that's what the executive order says.

Turns out Canada Post has been knowingly accepting shipments of fentanyl declared as used VW bits.

 

[Windex]

I purchased a radio screen from Canadian junkyard seller on Ebay for $100 back in August but it turned out to be faulty, the seller sent a replacement but then I got hit with the $42 tariffs from UPS. When I looked at the charge only $13 or so were the government fees the rest was a brokerage charge.

UPS is the absolute worst at jacking customers with their own fees... $xx import fee and then 3x that fee for UPS to process it...

 

[Nuje]

We Canadians have been dealing with that boondoggle for years / decades now, even on like $20 purchases from the US.
FedEx / DHL are a lot more reasonable on their "brokerage" fees (like a fixed $10); UPS the absolute worst, like you said.

 

[PradoTDI]

I ordered a turbo and injectors from PowerTDI, they shipped via UPS. The order total was $1445, tariffs and brokerage fees came to $792. The brokerage fees were $34, the rest was "government charges". I've opened a complaint with UPS to try and get some info from them about how they arrived at "government charges" of 55%, seeing as how items from Poland should only be 15%, or at most 25% for auto parts.

 

[burpod]

I ordered a turbo and injectors from PowerTDI, they shipped via UPS. The order total was $1445, tariffs and brokerage fees came to $792. The brokerage fees were $34, the rest was "government charges". I've opened a complaint with UPS to try and get some info from them about how they arrived at "government charges" of 55%, seeing as how items from Poland should only be 15%, or at most 25% for auto parts.

man. that is crazy. if you had gotten your order a couple weeks ago, that bill would have been half that :/

 

[PradoTDI]

man. that is crazy. if you had gotten your order a couple weeks ago, that bill would have been half that :/

Unfortunately, yes. I seem to have a knack for waiting a little too long to order parts. I did that with transmission parts when I was doing my engine swap, spent a month researching all the parts necessary to regear 5th and by the time I was ready to order, the parts were out of production. Took a lot more research and a full rebuild of the transmission with newer parts.

So far this is the only thing I've heard from UPS: "As of 8/29 CBP is no longer allowing any broker to process low value shipments under De Minimis, ALL shipments are to be processed and will be informal or formal entries and they are now subject to all additional duties due to Section 301 and reciprocal tariffs."

Absurd, since the parts wouldn't have been subject to de minimus or, as far as I can find, Section 301. Reciprocal tariffs would just be 15%.

 

[burpod]

Unfortunately, yes. I seem to have a knack for waiting a little too long to order parts. I did that with transmission parts when I was doing my engine swap, spent a month researching all the parts necessary to rehear 5th and by the time I was ready to order, the parts were out of production. Took a lot more research and a full rebuild of the transmission with newer parts.

So far this is the only thing I've heard from UPS: "As of 8/29 CBP is no longer allowing any broker to process low value shipments under De Minimis, ALL shipments are to be processed and will be informal or formal entries and they are now subject to all additional duties due to Section 301 and reciprocal tariffs."

Absurd, since the parts wouldn't have been subject to de minimus or, as far as I can find, Section 301. Reciprocal tariffs would just be 15%.

well, there is no minimus far as i know, now. but it would always depend on the total order anyway

 

[PradoTDI]

Yeah, de minimus ended two days before my order even shipped, but even if it hadn't the order total would still have been too high.

 

[TurboABA]

Here's my recent cross-border experience.... not impressed.

Date Ordered: Wednesday 23 July, 2025
Products
------------------------------------------------------
1 x 2.5" V-Band Clamp (CLA000313) = $14.39
1 x 2.5" Stainless Steel V-Band Clamp Rings (Set of 2) (CLA000318) = $34.99
1 x 2.5" Stainless Steel Exhaust/Intake Flex Section - 6" Long (EXH000864) = $14.99
------------------------------------------------------
Sub-Total: $64.37
Canadian Shipping/Handling (USPS First Class or Priority Mail International: 6-10 days): $29.99
Total: $94.36 USD
------------------------------------------------------
Canada Post $45.95 CAD (charged upon delivery)

 

[kyle170]

Just ordered a set of rods & sputter bearings from darkside -- Will update once DHL issues the tarrif bill

 

[TurboABA]

Ouch..... that's gonna hurt!

 

[AndyBees]

Sometime in June, Weddle Industries reached out to its customs stating that effective July 1st, they would be adding a 10% surcharge due to tariffs. Weddle supplies parts and aftermarket gears to the VW sand rail, etc., crowd and associated services. I use their parts to rebuild VW Bus and Vanagon transmissions, and gearing upgrades. So, I placed orders totaling over $4k to avoid the surcharges. I've noticed a few part prices have increased modestly since I placed those orders. I now have more orders to place, so, I'll learn more in a few days.

 

[Mozambiquer]

I've gotten hit with a couple, and have found that the high prices are mostly the shipping company's "broker fees" and not the tariffs themselves, as if you look at the tariff percentage, it's actually way less than they are charging.
I was talking with Nick Vandervalk (Nat performance) and he was telling me that for delete pipes, the law shows that they only have to declare the price of the steel, so for pipe kits that come from him they are charging about $60 USD, whereas flowdirekt for example, is showing the price of the pipe kit itself, which means the change is a lot higher, one guy paid over $200 in fees on his.

Canada has been doing this to us for a long time though, I shipped some alternators to Canada and one guy got hit with a 100% tariff, he had to pay over and above what he paid me. But it was mostly ups that was the worst offender about it. FedEx and USPS didn't charge as much and USPS offers to be able to prepay the tariff.

 

[BobnOH]

Well if I wasn't confused before I am now......

 

[kyle170]

Just ordered a set of rods & sputter bearings from darkside -- Will update once DHL issues the tariff bill

Update! -- DHL is charging me $53.14 to import (under categorization of "Connecting Rod, Connecting Rod Spacer") which represents just 7% of the order total -- Paid and lets hope that this is all that there is! I have a feeling that both DHL is not charging an arm and a leg for broker fees (Unlike UPS/Fedex) and DarksideDevelopments knows what to put in order to avoid as much tarrif as possible (they have an blog post about it https://www.darksidedevelopments.co.uk/Blog/shipping-to-the-usa-september-2025/)

 

[Nuje]

I shipped some alternators to Canada and one guy got hit with a 100% tariff, he had to pay over and above what he paid me.

I've ordered many parts from the US and.....something's not right there. There's no 100% tariffs on imports to Canada on anything (except maybe Chinese EVs).
I've ordered from various car parts from you, idparts, cascadegerman, fcpeuro and never had anything like that. And when I bring things across at Point Roberts and pay there and get a clear listing of what's duty and what's taxes (and no brokerage fees because I'm paying CBSA directly)....anything US origin has been taxes only; stuff of EU origin (purchased from US vendor) had a 20% duty, plus the normal GST/PST.

Doubling the price? The only time I've had something like that happen was on a $50 item that UPS slapped a $35 brokerage fee to collect the duties and taxes (which amounted to like $12).
My slogan for them: "UPS: Brown stinks."

 

[Mozambiquer]

I've ordered many parts from the US and.....something's not right there. There's no 100% tariffs on imports to Canada on anything (except maybe Chinese EVs).
I've ordered from various car parts from you, idparts, cascadegerman, fcpeuro and never had anything like that. And when I bring things across at Point Roberts and pay there and get a clear listing of what's duty and what's taxes (and no brokerage fees because I'm paying CBSA directly)....anything US origin has been taxes only; stuff of EU origin (purchased from US vendor) had a 20% duty, plus the normal GST/PST.

Doubling the price? The only time I've had something like that happen was on a $50 item that UPS slapped a $35 brokerage fee to collect the duties and taxes (which amounted to like $12).
My slogan for them: "UPS: Brown stinks."

Yep, it was a $120 starter and UPS charged them $117 brokerage and tariff fees. Though I guess it is slightly less since that was USD to CAD.

 

[Nuje]

Right, so $120USD = $170CAD.

Then, if UPS charges $40 brokerage, you're at $210. Then if the parts are EU in origin, that's 20% = ~$40, so you're at $80 in extra fees so far.
Then some provinces have 15% HST ("harmonized" provincial and national goods and services "sales" tax) = $37
$80 + $37 =$117.00

So, it's still only 20% duty (tariff), plus the taxes you'd pay regardless of where it was purchased from; and of course UPS needing to get its taste of the action.

 

[Mozambiquer]

Right, so $120USD = $170CAD.

Then, if UPS charges $40 brokerage, you're at $210. Then if the parts are EU in origin, that's 20% = ~$40, so you're at $80 in extra fees so far.
Then some provinces have 15% HST ("harmonized" provincial and national goods and services "sales" tax) = $37
$80 + $37 =$117.00

So, it's still only 20% duty (tariff), plus the taxes you'd pay regardless of where it was purchased from; and of course UPS needing to get its taste of the action.

Yep, that's the part that was a lot more frustrating, the amount ups charges above the normal tariffs.

 

[AndyBees]

Well, I had always thought I'd been taking a beating on shipping from Weddle to my Kentucky address. So, on my last two orders, I had them shipped to an in town address. The cost was $15 less on each package ............... The revelation really pissed me off, because for years, to do the UPS driver a favor, I'd have him drop my shipments at that same address not knowing they were charging me an extra $15 because I lived in a rural area 14 miles out of town.

 

[NRGross24]

So, Hopefully this helps someone or even better everyone who reads it. I ordered some +100wzm pd injectors from powertdi and did receive the dreaded 50% duty fee which came out to a whopping $452 bringing my total cost of these up to $1329...ouch. I reached out to powertdi and was informed that classification was 8708.99 - Parts and accessories for motor vehicles. After reading through this thread and discussing with a few people as well as doing some of my own research through the tariff code sheet I was able to find classification 8408 - Compression-ignition internal combustion piston engines (diesel or semi-diesel engines):. I took this and plugged it into chatgpt and was able to get a code with sub codes I could send to UPS for a classification dispute. That code came out to be 8409.91.50 which is basically a continuation of 8408. After a few days this was altered by UPS into 8409.91.5085 which reads as eng pts other, nspf, for autos.

Now for the fun part......drumroll...... I just heard back from UPS regarding my dispute and my duty rate was brought down from 50% alllllll the way down to a measly 2.5% which came out to a total of $21.93 which made me one happy camper.

Best of luck to anyone ordering parts from across borders. Do your research and dispute everything you can if it just doesn't seem right to you.

 

[Shoveltrev]

got " Plumbing " supplies from canada . arrived yesterday via DHL no tariffs no extra charges .