Selling to US Customers from the UK: A Shipping Guide

Education

11-11-2026

UK ecommerce brands can reach U.S. customers by shipping each order across the Atlantic or by importing stock in bulk into a U.S. warehouse and shipping domestically. The old $800 de minimis exemption no longer helps: the U.S. has suspended duty-free de minimis treatment for all countries, including the UK, since August 29, 2025. Every shipment now needs a U.S. customs entry, and any duties owed must be paid.

What Happened to the $800 De Minimis Exemption?

Until 2025, a UK seller could send a parcel worth up to $800 to a U.S. buyer without U.S. duty. Here is how that ended:

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: After the Supreme Court ruled that IEEPA does not authorize tariffs, Executive Order 14388 kept the de minimis suspension in place.
June 24, 2026: CBP published interim final rules that suspend the exemption indefinitely for every mode of transport, including Royal Mail and other postal shipments.
July 24, 2026: A new postal informal entry process started for mail valued at $2,500 or less.
July 1, 2027: Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the exemption ends in U.S. law.

Shipments that once crossed duty-free now go through informal entry, generally for goods valued at $2,500 or less, or formal entry above that. Bona fide gifts of $100 or less are still exempt, but customer orders are sales, not gifts.

What Do UK Sellers Pay When Goods Enter the U.S.?

Normal duty rates

Each product has a duty rate set by its 10-digit code in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). The first six digits match the Harmonized System code you may already use for UK exports, but the last four digits are U.S.-specific. Many goods carry a low or zero normal rate, while some, such as certain apparel and footwear, carry higher ones.

Additional tariffs

On top of normal duty, the U.S. has applied additional tariffs to imports from most countries since 2025, and the legal basis has changed more than once. In July 2026, Borderbuddy reported that UK goods faced an additional tariff of about 10% on top of the normal duty rate after the previous surcharge expired on July 24, 2026. Rates and exemptions change often, so confirm the current figure for your products with a broker before you set U.S. prices.

Country of origin

Duty is based on where goods were made, not where they ship from. If your products are made in another country and shipped from your UK warehouse, U.S. duty generally follows the country of manufacture. Make sure your commercial invoices state origin correctly.

Who Is the Importer of Record?

CBP defines the importer of record as the party responsible for paying all duties and taxes on an import. That party must use reasonable care to classify and value the goods, and a customs bond is generally required before goods are released.

For direct-to-consumer parcels, the question is whether your customer, your company or a party arranged through your carrier or broker takes that role. This affects who receives the duty bill and whether the customer is asked to pay at the door. A licensed U.S. customs broker can explain the options that fit your business.

Option 1: Ship Orders Direct From the UK

Sending each order from the UK keeps your inventory in one place and lets you test U.S. demand without a second warehouse.

Courier or post: Express couriers usually handle the customs entry as part of the service. With the postal network, the new U.S. postal process requires the owner, purchaser or a licensed broker to file a monthly duty worksheet with 10-digit codes and pay through Pay.gov, and duties are no longer collected on delivery.
Postal limits: Under CBP's rule, mail subject to additional duties in HTSUS Chapter 99 or regulated by other U.S. agencies must use formal entry. A temporary grace period ended October 22, 2026, so check with your postal provider or broker before relying on mail.
Duties at the door: If your customer is asked to pay duties at delivery, some will refuse the parcel. Delivered duty paid (DDP) shipping, where you pay up front and build the cost into your price, is usually a better customer experience.
New carrier fees: FedEx says a residential delivery charge will apply to qualifying international package shipments to the U.S. from January 18, 2027.
Returns: U.S. customers returning items to the UK face international postage, which can discourage purchases.

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

Once U.S. sales are steady, many brands move to bulk imports. You ship a pallet or container, clear customs once, and store the goods at a U.S. fulfillment center that ships orders domestically.

One customs entry per shipment instead of one per parcel.
Domestic shipping rates and speeds for U.S. customers, with no customs step at delivery.
A U.S. returns address, which makes returns cheaper and easier.
What you take on: a customs broker and importer of record for each shipment, a customs bond, freight costs across the Atlantic and inventory split between two countries. Storing inventory in a U.S. state can create sales tax obligations, so speak to a tax advisor.

Is a Los Angeles Warehouse Right for a UK Brand?

It depends on where your customers are and where your goods are made.

Strong fit: Your products are made in Asia. U.S.-bound stock can sail straight from the factory to the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach instead of crossing to the UK first. The goods still need a U.S. customs entry, but you save a long leg.
Strong fit: Many of your U.S. customers are in California and the western states. From LA, ground shipping generally reaches the West Coast in 1 to 2 business days and most of the continental U.S. in 3 to 5.
Compare carefully: Your goods are made in the UK or Europe and most U.S. buyers are on the East Coast. Freight to an East Coast port may be shorter, so weigh freight, warehouse and delivery costs for both coasts.

Checklist for UK Brands Entering the U.S.

Find the 10-digit HTSUS code and country of origin for each SKU.
Check normal duty rates and current additional tariffs for those codes.
Talk to a licensed U.S. customs broker about importer of record and bonds.
Choose DDP or duties-on-delivery and price in U.S. dollars.
Model direct shipping against bulk import using your real order data.
Get tax advice on U.S. sales tax before holding stock in a U.S. state.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

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

Can I keep sending orders by Royal Mail?

Postal shipments are no longer exempt. They now go through CBP's postal informal entry process or formal entry, which requires a qualified filer, 10-digit tariff codes and a customs bond. Check with your postal provider and a broker before you rely on mail.

Will a U.S. 3PL clear my goods through customs?

A fulfillment warehouse receives, stores and ships inventory after it clears customs. Customs entries are made by the importer of record, usually with a licensed customs broker. 3PL City does not act as importer of record.

When does bulk importing make sense?

Usually once U.S. orders are steady enough that one larger shipment costs less than many parcels, and you want faster U.S. delivery and easier returns.

Fulfill 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. After your inventory clears customs, we receive and store it 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, Etsy, WooCommerce, Squarespace 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.