Tariffs and Duties! What does this mean for European e-commerce?

This might be the best way to describe the topic of duties in recent days. To be honest, the sudden 90-day pause announced last night forced us to revise the article we had already prepared. But we quickly got back to work to bring you the most up-to-date information!

On April 5, 2025, Donald Trump announced the introduction of a 20% duty on all goods imported from the European Union. This move, along with the increase in duties on Chinese products (up to 104%) and those from Hong Kong, completely reshaped the import-export landscape with the United States. However, with the American tycoon's U-turn, a 90-day pause was initiated, putting the global trade landscape into question.

For those managing e-commerce with international shipments—especially to the United States—this represents a significant change.

What do the new duties look like (today)?

With this latest reversal, starting April 9 and for the next 3 months, the new duties will be added to the existing ones: taxes, duties, and other customs charges will remain in place and will be increased by an additional 10%.

The actual impact varies from product to product: each item imported into the U.S. is identified by the 6-digit HS code — the reference code for customs at the point of entry into a given country — which determines its specific duty rate.

But does it apply to all amounts?

No.

For now, the so-called de minimis rule remains in place, which exempts shipments (orders) with a value of less than $800 from duties.

The good news? This rule is still valid in the EU (... for now!).
The bad news? It could change soon because the Trump administration has already indicated that this exemption won't last forever (for example, in China, it will end on May 2).

A couple of examples of new duties:

• Cotton T-shirt: was 16.5% > now it's 16.5 + 10 = 26.5%

• Synthetic women’s jacket: was 27.30% > now it's 27.30 + 10 = 37.30%

How can a brand prepare?

For brands selling online in the United States, the introduction of these new duties requires a careful review of logistics and customs strategies. In particular:

• Map the correct TARIC customs codes (the coding used in Europe to define duties and rules, based on the 6 digits of the HS code) for your products.

• Assess the impact of the new duties on profit margins.

• Revise the price list in USD.

• Consider local fulfillment solutions or partnerships with specialized operators.

How can Drop help?

At Drop, we support brands in tackling even the most complex scenarios: from optimizing international shipping to multi-warehouse management, all the way to fully customizing the customer experience, even beyond the EU borders.

Thanks to our warehouse in the United States, we help brands reduce delivery times and customs costs, simplifying access to a strategic market like the U.S.

What will happen in three months?

Trade policies are constantly shifting and as we know, they can change overnight. The 90-day pause imposed by Trump is just a temporary stop in a journey that promises more surprises. In a few months, we’ll have a much clearer picture of what to expect. And as soon as there’s news, we’ll be ready to bring you all the updates.

If you sell online and the U.S. market is key to your growth, let’s talk. Knowing the rules is important, but knowing how to navigate them with agility can make all the difference.

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— 10 April 2025