Exporting to USA: the biggest, the strictest and fully doable
The USA is the world’s most powerful consumer market, but also the one where the rules have changed the most in recent years. New American tariffs on EU goods, the abolished duty exemption for small parcels and strict regulatory requirements make the documents more important than ever.
We handle the export declaration, keep track of the rule changes and make sure your American customer gets the goods without trouble at CBP.
US tariffs on the EU have been redrawn
Since 24 July 2026 the USA charges 10 per cent on most EU goods, and if the ordinary duty is already at least 10 per cent nothing is added. Passenger cars are at 15 per cent, steel and aluminium at 50. The old picture of the USA as an almost duty-free market is no longer true.
The duty is paid by your American customer at import, but it affects your business directly: the customer’s calculation, your price and your competitiveness against American alternatives. And the rules keep changing, with exceptions that come and go.
We monitor the changes continuously and make sure your documents always reflect today’s rules.
Your customer’s duty cost is calculated on your details
US Customs works from your invoice: the description of the goods, the value and the country of origin. Carelessness in any of them can give your customer the wrong duty rate, extra controls at CBP or suspicion of circumvention. Correct details from the start are the cheapest way to protect your customer’s calculation.
Up-to-date information is part of the service, not an add-on.
What happens when you sell to the USA
Export declaration in Sweden
Lodged with Swedish Customs before the goods leave the EU. You get an MRN and a proof of exit, the receipt for your VAT exemption.
Freight across the Atlantic
Sea, air or express. The documents must be complete before departure, as American security requirements apply already at loading.
Import at CBP in the USA
Your customer is normally the importer and clears through their American customs broker, with the HTS code, duty and fees calculated on your invoice details.
The 800-dollar threshold is gone
For years, online stores could send parcels worth up to 800 dollars to American consumers entirely without duty or clearance. That threshold was abolished in 2025. Nowadays all shipments are cleared, regardless of value, and duty is charged even on small parcels.
For Swedish online stores selling to the USA, that changes the whole calculation: prices, choice of freight and who covers the charges must be reworked. Those who have adapted keep selling, those who have not lose their customers at the door.
Before 2025
Parcels under 800 dollars: free passage
No duty, no clearance, no charges for the customer.
Now
All shipments are cleared
Duty and fees are charged regardless of value. Pricing, freight set-up and customer communication need a new approach.
Unsure what the US business costs under today’s rules?
Call +46 31 755 77 76 or email info@easytull.com. A reply within 10 minutes, or the declaration is on us.
Make it easy for your American customer
Your customer clears at CBP, but it is your documents and your product that decide how it goes. Four things that must be in place before the first shipment.
The invoice the way CBP wants it
A detailed description in English, a correct value and a clear country of origin. Vague descriptions such as “parts” or “samples” are a classic cause of stops.
Regulatory requirements per product type
FDA for food, cosmetics and medical devices, FCC for electronics, CPSIA for toys, DOT for vehicle products. Check before departure, not after.
The country of origin must be honest
US duty rates differ sharply between countries of origin, and CBP hunts circumvention. Resold Asian goods must not be marked as Swedish.
Wood packaging under ISPM 15
Pallets and wooden crates must be heat-treated and marked. Unmarked packaging can get the whole shipment rejected at the border.
Incoterms to the USA: let the customer be the importer
American imports require an importer of record with a customs broker and a bond. That should be your customer, not you.
DAP / FCA
The customer imports
Your American customer handles the import into the USA and pays the US duty. The export declaration from the EU is still yours.
EXW
The customer takes the whole chain
Works with experienced American buyers, but remember that the export declaration in Sweden is still your responsibility to get right.
DDP
Requires an American set-up
Handling the import in the USA yourself requires registration, a bond and a broker on the ground. Do not promise it in a contract without talking to us first.
Four routes west
We clear the export whatever the mode of transport and make sure the documents are ready before departure. Need the freight as well? We arrange transport through our forwarding partners, so freight and clearance are booked in one.
15–30
days
Sea freight
The cheapest for volumes. The East Coast is faster than the West Coast.
2–5
days
Air freight
For time-critical deliveries and high-value goods.
2–4
days
Express
DHL, FedEx and UPS door to door for smaller shipments.
Six mistakes that stop US exports
A vague description of the goods
“Parts” or “samples” on the invoice triggers controls at CBP.
Counting on old tariff levels
Quotes built on the era before the additional tariffs give the customer an unpleasant surprise.
A wrong or unclear country of origin
Gives the wrong duty rate and, at worst, suspicion of circumvention.
The regulatory requirements are forgotten
FDA, FCC and CPSIA are checked at import. Errors here stop the whole shipment.
The proof of exit is missing
The VAT exemption can be questioned by the Swedish Tax Agency, with retroactive Swedish VAT as the risk.
E-commerce with an old calculation
Without the 800-dollar threshold, the customer faces charges at the door if the set-up has not been reworked.
All six are caught before departure
We review the invoice, the origin and the regulatory requirements before the goods leave Sweden. That is when mistakes are cheap to fix.
How your US exports get started
We set up the flow once, then every delivery is routine. Your American customer only notices that everything works.
We set up your flow
Commodity codes, an invoice template CBP likes, regulatory requirements and Incoterms. Once.
Send the invoice per shipment
We prepare the export declaration under today’s rules and coordinate with your customer’s American broker.
You get the proofs
The MRN, proof of exit and records ready for VAT reporting and bookkeeping.
Send the invoice, and a customs specialist replies within 10 minutes
Attach the commercial invoice and the transport booking and we come back with what is required, what it costs and when the declaration will be ready. Calling works just as well.
The same customs specialist every time
Ready within 2 hours
Fixed price, no lock-in
Your details are only used to reply to you. Read our privacy policy.
Questions and answers about exporting to the USA
Can’t find the answer? We reply within 10 minutes.
Is there duty on Swedish goods in the USA?
Yes. Since 24 July 2026 the USA charges 10 per cent on most EU goods, 15 per cent on passenger cars and 50 per cent on steel and aluminium. The duty is paid by your American customer at import and is calculated on your invoice details. The rules change continuously, ask us what applies to your goods today.
Do I have to lodge an export declaration when exporting to the USA?
Yes, always. Every shipment requires an export declaration to Swedish Customs before the goods leave the EU. The declaration is also your basis for the VAT exemption.
Are exports to the USA VAT-free?
Yes, the sale is normally free of Swedish VAT, provided you can prove the exit with the proof of exit belonging to the export declaration. In the USA, the buyer pays American duty and any fees at import.
What happened to the 800-dollar threshold?
The USA abolished the duty-free threshold for small shipments in 2025. Nowadays all shipments are cleared regardless of value, and duty is charged even on small parcels. If you sell e-commerce to the USA, the calculation needs to be reworked.
Does my customer need an American customs broker?
For formal imports, yes. In practice, the goods are cleared by an American customs broker, and the importer needs a bond, a guarantee posted with US Customs that covers duty and fees if they are not paid. Your customer arranges that on their side, and we make sure our documents give the broker everything they need.
Which products require FDA or FCC approval?
FDA covers food, supplements, cosmetics and medical devices, FCC electronics with radio functions, CPSIA toys and children’s products, and DOT vehicle products. Check the requirements before the first shipment. We help you find out what applies to your product.
Ready to export to USA?
An export declaration under today’s rules, documents CBP approves and the proofs for your VAT exemption.
Ready within 2 hours
Your own customs expert
Reply within 10 min, or the declaration is on us
Call +46 31 755 77 76 or email info@easytull.com
More customs guides: Importing from the USA · Exporting to China · Exporting to the UK · Duty calculator · HS code search · EORI number · Import declarations · Customs broker
