@AgentSmith of COURSE you own calipers :). Thx, Brillo EZ is out!
@desertshores that is super helpful and thanks for the various brands… That Brillo is so much smaller, so I’ll ask for that specific brand… my esophagus thanks you!!!
THX AGAIN!!!
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One thing to keep in mind is when the vendor actually ships. I just heard from the third vendor with whom I placed an inquiry. He is not sure he can find available two of the meds in my order (pivasta 4mg, and forxiga 5mg for my cat). Who knows how long it would take him to find the meds, meanwhile I need the meds to arrive by 08/28. I asked him to locate the meds first and give me the date by which he can definitely ship, and then I’ll send the money. I have not used this vendor before so I am taking a chance on him giving me a real date, instead of giving me some “date” and then sitting on the money while he searches for the meds. We’ll see, it’s all an adventure, lol.
UPDATE: this morning that third vendor suddenly announced that he can get these meds, so I went ahead and paid for the order. So now I have three orders in, and it’s off to the races. We’ll see how all of this shakes out. I’ll update this if there are any notable developments.
Btw. it’s possible that overseas pharmacies are being flooded by orders frm US residents right now trying to beat the 08/29 deadline, and the availability of some meds are being depleted. Or maybe not, if most folks are not paying attention, or don’t see the point. YMMV.
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‘HS tariff rate’ refers to a ‘Harmonized System’ of tariff codes, a world-wide standardized system of codes used to categorize international shipments.
I checked the customs declaration on Maulik’s boxes and they already have an HS code of ‘3004:India’. Probably all the Indian shippers already include this, but you might want to check your boxes.
I turned to AI for further explication, and impact after 8/29: TLDR: The tariff should be zero as long as India retains ‘Most Favored Nation’ status, tradewise.
User:
Ok, I just checked a box from a prior shipment, and it already has an HS code which is ‘3004:India’. Should this be enough information? What tariff is applied to 3004 after 8/29?Assistant:
If your shipment lists “3004: India” on the customs form, that means it is classified under HTSUS Heading 3004 (“medicaments … for therapeutic or prophylactic uses”), with India as the country of origin.
Is that enough info?
Yes — it’s exactly what’s needed:
- 3004 properly identifies the type of goods (pharmaceuticals packaged for retail use).
- India indicates country-of-origin, which determines tariff treatment.
This combination should allow CBP to assign the correct duty rate rather than guessing. Your HS code is valid and helpful — well done.
What tariff applies post‑August 29?
Step 1: Does the medicinal HS code 3004 carry duty?
Under U.S. tariff law, most retail-packaged medicaments in HTS heading 3004 from India are duty-free in Column 1 rates (most-favored-nation basis) (usitc.gov, usitc.gov, cbp.gov). So the ad valorem rate is effectively 0%.Step 2: How does the new postal duty regime affect you?
Starting August 29, 2025, packages via the postal system still must pay either:
- A flat specific duty based on the country’s effective tariff rate or
- Ad valorem duty (a percentage of value) if that rate applies — whichever is lower — during the six-month transition (whitehouse.gov, greenworldwide.com, theverge.com).
India’s effective tariff rate on 3004 is 0%, clearly under 16%, placing it in the lowest tier.
- Tier threshold: < 16% → flat duty $80 per item
- Applied ad valorem: 0% of declared $ value = $0
CBP allows the importer (or postal carrier) to choose whichever is lower. They will select the $0 ad valorem option, since it’s cheaper than the flat $80.
After the interim six-month window ends, only ad valorem remains, which in your case remains 0.
Summary Table
HS Code Country Duty‑free under HTS? Tier Postal Duty Option (Aug 29-Feb 2026) Net Duty 3004 India Yes (0%) <16% Choose between $80 flat or 0% ad valorem $0
Because you’ve got HS 3004 and declared India origin, CBP recognizes your item as pharmaceutical, duty‑free under U.S. law. Under the new rules, even though postal shipments require a tariff charge, India’s effective tariff is 0%, so you pay $0.
My confidence: high.
One further wild card is the fact that India buys huge amounts of oil from Russia, and could get hit something tariff-related, as Trump is proposing more Russia-related sanctions.
Edit:
I queried further as to what this statement is all about:
’ CBP allows the importer (or postal carrier) to choose whichever is lower. They will select the $0 ad valorem option , since it’s cheaper than the flat $80.’
And the bottom line is that for our small shipmments there’s no ‘election’ to be made, it’s all handled electronically based on HS code.
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