@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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I just saw this… i have two orders on the way… hope they get in with no problems… ARGH!
Valid for the next 7 minutes. What happens at minute 8 nobody knows, not even TACO. Chaos, but not controlled chaos.
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Electronics, including iPhones, and pharma remain exempt for now.
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UPDATE 08/12/25 on my four big orders from India.
Apparently there was some kind of software update at India Post, so the tracking is very hit or miss. Most orders are still showing “label created, not yet in system”, but apparently things are moving normally otherwise.
The first order from Jagdish just cleared US Customs (at least says ‘outbound’), the second order from Jagdish is still somewhere without tracking “label created”.
Another vendor’s shipment is showing “Acceptance” in India as of today. Where it’s really at is hard to say.
But we have a new champion - the fourth order. It’s a vendor I have never used before. The tracking is still showing “label created, not yet in system” - except IT’S JUST BEEN DELIVERED TO MY DOOR (signature required)!
Well, that was FAST! I mentioned to him that I need this order soon - before the end of August, and he really did a good job. Payment through WISE was smooth, he assisted along the way, but he’s already recognized in the WISE system. I put in an email inquiry with him 07/31/25, he responded the same day, paid through WISE 08/01/25 payment acknowledged immediately, August 4 received a tracking number and photo - and today August 12, I have the package in my hands, all the meds accurate and with good expiry date. Less than two weeks from inquiry to delivery! I am very happy with his customer service. Based on this experience so far, I can recommend him. His info:
VL Tradelink Pvt. Ltd.
10, Bharatmata nagar,
Hudkeshwar Road
NAGPUR - 440 034,
MH, India
I contacted him through email:
Pravin Lohati
varunmedicalsngp@gmail.com
UPDATE 2 - 08/14/25: today I received the first of two packages from Jagdish on my latest orders. I’m still awaiting the second package from Jagdish and a package from another vendor, both of which show “preparing for shipment” in India if USPS tracking is to be believed. Two down, two to go!
UPDATE 3 - 08/18/25: today I received the second of the two packages frm Jagdish, which I ordered after the first one, and he dispatched on 08/09/25. So from dispatch to holding it in my hands, it’s been 10 days. The last vendor’s package I am waiting for seems to have cleared customs, so I should be getting it soon. Three down, one to go!
UPDATE 4 - 08/21/25: today I received the package from the third vendor, which completes the orders. I paid through WISE on 07/31, I received a tracking number 08/04/25 and so the whole process took about 3 weeks. This will be the last update, four down, none to go!
Summarizing. I placed three identical orders at the same time at the end of July with three vendors. Jagdish was one, Varun Medicals was the second, and here’s the info for the third vendor (see update 4 above):
PM Business Hub
contact: Vidhan Agrawal
email: sales@pmbusinesshub.com
I contacted him through email, but he soon switched to texting, which is not my preferred method, but fine. He accepts WISE and is very helpful with the process, and there actually texting can be useful so you are guided immediately without a lot of trial and error.
And the fourth identical order was placed again with Jagdish a few days later. They all responded quite fast, with Jagdish shipping first (which is why he got the second order!), but I received the package fastest from Varun Medicals, then Jagdish (both orders) and finally PM Business Hub at 3 weeks. However, these differences are not essential as they all shipped at roughly the same time - it’s the various post office vagaries that were responsible for any shipping time differences (plus Indian PO just upgraded their software systems during this time).
I am now set with all the medications I’m currently taking or will soon be taking (like pioglitazone), until late 2030. I have stored them all in a dedicated refrigerator so hopefully it won’t matter that by 2030, most will be expired by a few years (according to expiration dates). I have made it before the customs change on 08/29/25 - whether ultimately this change makes a material difference in availability, cost and safety of getting meds from India I have no idea, however out of an abundance of caution, I decided to forego that risk and got my stash in under the deadline. However, life being what it is, odds are that I will have to again try to import meds from India - as knowledge grows, and health evolves, I may very soon need a whole bunch more of Indian pharmacy meds, in which case, I’ll find out soon enough what these customs changes really mean in practice. We’ll see.
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Successful package delivery: India to West Coast USA in 13 days. Small package, shipper kept it flat, and I only risked $230.
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Why don’t these Indian shippers just stealth package? Put the meds on a cellphone holder box, label it as such, and put a super low value. That’s what my Chinese suppliers do, and it works.
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Maybe because of Indian customs, not ours. Indian customs officials seem to closely inspect contents, as they have required removal of certain medications. And licensed pharmacists probably don’t want to get caught smuggling. There is no upside for them. A few of them are routing packages through another country and have a 99% pass rate, but that’s legal for them.
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