Selling to US Customers from Australia: A Shipping Guide

Education

11-11-2026

Australian ecommerce brands can sell to U.S. customers by shipping each order internationally or by importing stock in bulk into a U.S. warehouse, often on the West Coast, and shipping orders domestically. Whichever you choose, the $800 de minimis exemption no longer applies. The U.S. has suspended duty-free de minimis treatment for imports from all countries, including Australia, since August 29, 2025, so every shipment needs a customs entry and any duties owed must be paid.

Is the $800 De Minimis Exemption Gone for Australian Sellers?

Yes, at least for now and permanently from mid-2027. Here is the timeline:

August 29, 2025: Executive Order 14324 suspended duty-free de minimis treatment for all countries, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
February 20, 2026: The Supreme Court ruled that IEEPA does not authorize tariffs. Executive Order 14388, signed the same day, continued the de minimis suspension.
June 24, 2026: CBP published interim final rules suspending the exemption indefinitely for all modes of transport, including international mail.
July 24, 2026: A new postal informal entry process began for mail valued at $2,500 or less.
July 1, 2027: The One Big Beautiful Bill Act ends the de minimis exemption in U.S. law.

Formerly duty-free parcels now go through informal entry, generally for shipments valued at $2,500 or less, or formal entry above that, with duties, taxes and fees collected. Bona fide gifts of $100 or less remain exempt, but customer purchases are not gifts.

U.S. Customs Basics for Australian Brands

Importer of record

CBP describes the importer of record as the party responsible for paying all duties and taxes on an import. The importer of record must use reasonable care to classify and value goods, and a customs bond is generally required before goods can be released. Decide early who will fill that role for your U.S. shipments, and get advice from a licensed U.S. customs broker.

Tariff codes

The U.S. classifies goods using 10-digit codes from the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). The first six digits follow the international Harmonized System you may already use for Australian export paperwork. The full U.S. code sets the duty rate.

Duty rates and trade agreements

Duty is based on where goods were made. Products made in Australia may qualify for preferential rates under the Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement, if they meet its rules of origin. Products made elsewhere, such as in Asia, generally take the duty rate for their country of manufacture even when shipped from Australia. Additional U.S. tariffs have also applied to imports from most countries since 2025 and have changed several times, so ask a broker for the current rate on each product.

Option 1: Ship Orders Direct From Australia

Direct shipping lets you test U.S. demand with no stock overseas. It also brings the longest delivery times and the highest per-parcel costs.

Couriers: International express services usually handle the U.S. customs entry. Ask how duties are billed and whether delivered duty paid (DDP) is available.
Postal shipments: Under CBP's postal rule, the owner, purchaser or a licensed broker must file a monthly duty worksheet with 10-digit codes, pay through Pay.gov by the 7th of the following month and hold a customs bond. Duties are no longer collected on delivery.
Postal limits: Mail that is subject to additional duties under HTSUS Chapter 99, claims free trade agreement treatment or is regulated by other U.S. agencies must use formal entry. A temporary grace period ended October 22, 2026.
Carrier fees: FedEx says a residential delivery charge will apply to qualifying international package shipments to the U.S. from January 18, 2027.
Returns: Sending items back to Australia is slow and expensive for U.S. customers.

Option 2: Bulk Import Into a U.S. Warehouse

With bulk importing, you send inventory in larger air or ocean shipments, clear U.S. customs once per shipment and store it at a U.S. fulfillment center. Orders then ship as domestic parcels.

Faster delivery: U.S. customers get domestic delivery times instead of international ones.
Lower cost per order: Freight and customs costs are spread across a full shipment.
Local returns: Customers return items to a U.S. address.
U.S. business hours: Orders are picked and shipped on U.S. time, so a customer who orders in the afternoon Pacific time is not waiting for Australia to wake up.
What to plan for: A customs broker, an importer of record and bond, freight across the Pacific, and inventory split between two countries. Storing inventory in a U.S. state can create sales tax obligations there, so check with a tax advisor.

Why Los Angeles Works Well for Australian Brands

Southern California is the natural U.S. landing point for goods crossing the Pacific. The Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are major gateways for trans-Pacific cargo, and LAX handles large volumes of international air freight.

Short drayage: A warehouse near the Port of Los Angeles means imported containers have only a short truck trip before they are received.
Direct from Asian factories: If you manufacture in Asia, U.S.-bound inventory can ship straight from the factory to LA instead of going to Australia first. It still needs a U.S. customs entry.
National reach: From LA, ground delivery generally reaches the West Coast in 1 to 2 business days and most of the continental U.S. in 3 to 5.

Checklist for Australian Brands Selling in the U.S.

Get 10-digit HTSUS codes and confirm country of origin for every SKU.
Check whether Australian-made products qualify under the free trade agreement.
Talk to a licensed U.S. customs broker about importer of record, bonds and current tariffs.
Decide between DDP and duties-on-delivery for direct shipments.
Compare direct shipping with bulk import, using your actual order volume and product sizes.
Get advice on U.S. sales tax before storing inventory in a U.S. state.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Australian sellers pay U.S. duty on orders under $800?

Yes, if duty applies to the product. The de minimis exemption has been suspended for all countries since August 29, 2025, and ends permanently under U.S. law on July 1, 2027.

Does the Australia-U.S. free trade agreement remove all duties?

Not necessarily. It can lower or remove normal duty for goods that meet its rules of origin, but goods made in other countries do not qualify, and additional tariffs have been applied separately. A licensed customs broker can confirm your products' treatment.

Can a U.S. fulfillment warehouse act as my importer?

A fulfillment warehouse receives, stores and ships your goods after customs clearance. The customs entry is handled by the importer of record, usually through a licensed customs broker. 3PL City does not act as importer of record.

How fast can U.S. customers get orders from an LA warehouse?

Ground delivery from Los Angeles generally takes 1 to 2 business days to the West Coast and 3 to 5 business days to most of the continental U.S.

Ship U.S. Orders From Los Angeles

3PL City operates a fulfillment warehouse at 1616 W Rosecrans Ave in Gardena, CA, about 8 miles from the Port of Los Angeles. Once your goods clear customs, we receive them, store them and ship orders on UPS, USPS, FedEx and DHL. Orders received by 2 PM Pacific ship the same business day, with 99.8% order accuracy from barcode scanning. We run on ShipHero WMS and connect to Shopify, Amazon, Walmart, TikTok Shop, BigCommerce, Wix and more. No long-term contracts, no minimums and itemized quotes. Request a fulfillment quote.

This guide is general information, not legal or customs advice. For your specific products, consult a licensed U.S. customs broker.