NBC News August 28 2025
U.S. shoppers' orders canceled as world shuts down some American-bound shipments
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Mos6502
Well-known
I placed large orders with international suppliers last month to avoid this. But hey, at least the richest people on the planet get to pay less taxes, so we should all keep smiling and pretend everything is fine, right?
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Disappointed_Horse
Well-known
That's what we did from 2016–2021, and exactly why we're in the mess we're in now.
I should avoid reading threads about this topic, as I'm likely to get myself banned from this forum.
ChrisPlatt
Thread Killer
Today I read this:
https://news.sky.com/story/how-the-us-trade-war-is-now-targeting-you-from-today-13419843
The above linked article includes this statement:
"Under the new rules, only letters and personal gifts worth less than $100 (£74) will still be free of import duties."
Can anyone verify the above statement? Does the same limit apply to imports from other countries?
Chris
https://news.sky.com/story/how-the-us-trade-war-is-now-targeting-you-from-today-13419843
The above linked article includes this statement:
"Under the new rules, only letters and personal gifts worth less than $100 (£74) will still be free of import duties."
Can anyone verify the above statement? Does the same limit apply to imports from other countries?
Chris
boojum
Ignoble Miscreant
I am just as unhappy as the rest of the board about the current state of international purchasing. I have two cameras due to be sent abroad for repair. I am not happy about that, not one little bit. And I have strong political opinions on the subject. But please do not let politics creep into discussions on this board. We get pissy enough over RF vs (D)SLR and so on. 😉
Mos6502
Well-known
The only "offishul" info on this I can find is: "Goods covered under 50 U.S.C. 1702(b) – donations and informational materials entry bond as
Exemptions – will still be eligible for duty free treatment. "
Which basically means gifts, or materials with "no value". Was going to post the text of 50 U.S.C. 1702(b) but it just gets you further into minutiae.
DownUnder
Gone walkabout
Let's try to be positive about all this. A little less consumer capitalism won't hurt the planet.
But you lot have three more years of this yet to come.
In Australia, the staff at my photo retail centre all tell me to expect shortages of American-produced photo goods (mostly chemistry and film) to come in the near future. I've (wisely I hope) stocked up on a few basic chems I need to go on mixing my own film developers and fixer. I have enough (now long expired) film in my darkroom fridge to keep me going for a few more years, by which time my eime in photography will end. So for me, what I have at home will see me through.
I still travel a lot in Southeast Asia. Fortunately for me, Australian customs rules are that I can bring in goods to AUD $900 when I return to my home country. I have family in Malaysia, so I can easily order from Japan and Taiwan and have it shipped to my rels' home address. Postal rates in Asian countries are affordable. Not so from North America or Australia.
So goes the way of the new global tariffs. I hope Japanese and European suppliers will step in to fill the shortages, but as we've long known Down Here, those sellers aren't cheap.
The good word here seems to be, batten the hatches and make ready for more to come.
But you lot have three more years of this yet to come.
In Australia, the staff at my photo retail centre all tell me to expect shortages of American-produced photo goods (mostly chemistry and film) to come in the near future. I've (wisely I hope) stocked up on a few basic chems I need to go on mixing my own film developers and fixer. I have enough (now long expired) film in my darkroom fridge to keep me going for a few more years, by which time my eime in photography will end. So for me, what I have at home will see me through.
I still travel a lot in Southeast Asia. Fortunately for me, Australian customs rules are that I can bring in goods to AUD $900 when I return to my home country. I have family in Malaysia, so I can easily order from Japan and Taiwan and have it shipped to my rels' home address. Postal rates in Asian countries are affordable. Not so from North America or Australia.
So goes the way of the new global tariffs. I hope Japanese and European suppliers will step in to fill the shortages, but as we've long known Down Here, those sellers aren't cheap.
The good word here seems to be, batten the hatches and make ready for more to come.
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Evergreen States
Francine Pierre Saget (they/them)
I'm tired of winning
NIKON KIU
Did you say Nippon Kogaku?
Yes, it’s true for just about every country US trades with.
Multiple foreign post services have stopped shipping parcels to US all together. Japan and Mexico for example.
Kiu
Archiver
Veteran
This makes me wonder how much of an effect this will have on the revenue of various companies. Some might have a very large proportion of buyers in the States, while others might not be affected so much. Will those adversely affected raise prices to try to claim back some of the difference?
coogee
Well-known
Current shutdown of (most) postal services from Australia to the USA. Very annoying but OK, I will try to do business elsewhere.
Mos6502
Well-known
For major importers, undoubtedly this will happen. For those of us buying from individuals, we're going to see a major increase in the price of shipping. From a Canadian source, the U.S. is requiring duties to be paid up front when items are posted. This will obviously be rolled into the shipping costs we Americans pay when buying something from international sellers. Seems like "the USA" wants to continue the bogus claim that tariffs won't be paid by U.S. citizens, so no duties paid on delivery serves to beat around the bush on the matter.
NIKON KIU
Did you say Nippon Kogaku?
Forget the affects on companies, there will be quite a few unhappy citizens who will be discovering this.
This will only affect normal people.
Kiu
This will only affect normal people.
Kiu
boojum
Ignoble Miscreant
I have had batteries and charger coming from Ali Express for over a month now. I cannot get a straight answer from them about where they are or when they will get here. It is chaos.
Out to Lunch
Veteran
National post offices across Europe have suspended shipping parcels to the USA as well.
NIKON KIU
Did you say Nippon Kogaku?
Why?
Less Capitalism? Or Less freedom? More taxes??
Depends how optimistic one is!
Kiu
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aw614
Well-known
I am glad I went ahead and got my Canon 50mm F1.2 fixed by Kanto and got Oleg to fix the Contax II + Nicca iiis in time for this mess.
This sucks as I did eventually want my minolta 35 model ii to eventually get CLA'ed, but I can still shoot it just not at 1/500 from the capping.
This sucks as I did eventually want my minolta 35 model ii to eventually get CLA'ed, but I can still shoot it just not at 1/500 from the capping.
Archiver
Veteran
There is a flow-on effect when companies feel the pinch, they raise prices and cut costs, resulting in more expensive goods with lower quality, which does indeed affect normal people. Not to mention that 'companies' are comprised of people, many of whom are normal folk who want to make a living and feed their families. Smaller businesses can be pushed out in favour of larger ones with the resources to survive this kind of economic situation. So again, normal people will be affected, even those in 'companies'.
KoNickon
Nick Merritt
Oleg is the person I thought of immediately -- how much of his business comes from the USA? This will be devastating for him (and those of us here with cameras that need his expertise).
ChrisPlatt
Thread Killer
A small aside for fellow music collectors on RFF:
Discogs sent me an email today including the following statement:
"US Tariffs Should Not Apply to Records and Other Physical Media
Vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, and other recorded media should be exempt from any tariffs under US presidential executive order."
The executive order going into effect on August 29, 2025, removes a long-standing "de minimis" tariff exemption for most goods valued under USD $800.
However, this change does not apply to "informational materials” like music media, which are still exempt from tariffs under US law 50 USC 1702(b)(3)."
If only this also applied to unrecorded media, i.e. photographic film, paper, etc...😉
Chris
Discogs sent me an email today including the following statement:
"US Tariffs Should Not Apply to Records and Other Physical Media
Vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, and other recorded media should be exempt from any tariffs under US presidential executive order."
The executive order going into effect on August 29, 2025, removes a long-standing "de minimis" tariff exemption for most goods valued under USD $800.
However, this change does not apply to "informational materials” like music media, which are still exempt from tariffs under US law 50 USC 1702(b)(3)."
If only this also applied to unrecorded media, i.e. photographic film, paper, etc...😉
Chris
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