Methodology — how this tool estimates Temu / Shein landed cost
This page documents what the Temu / Shein Tariff Impact Checker actually does, what it explicitly does not do, and when you should use it versus a paid customs broker.
What this tool does
The tool computes a five-line tariff stack for a single retail parcel entering the United States from China (or another supported origin) via Temu, Shein, AliExpress, or a similar consumer marketplace. Inputs are the cart subtotal, the product category (a coarse HTSUS chapter bucket), the country of origin, and the shipping you paid. The calculator returns:
- The Most-Favored-Nation (MFN) base duty from HTSUS 2026.
- The Section 301 duty (Lists 1-4), applied to China-origin goods only.
- The IEEPA fentanyl-related additional duty (EO 14309), China-origin only.
- The IEEPA reciprocal duty (EO 14257), applied to all covered origins.
- The Merchandise Processing Fee (19 CFR 24.23), informal or formal schedule.
- The total landed cost (cart subtotal + shipping + total duties + MPF).
- A line showing what the same parcel would have cost under the pre-Aug-29-2025 $800 de minimis exemption.
What this tool does NOT do
- It does not give customs, legal, or tax advice. The figure shown is an estimate based on published rate schedules, not a binding classification.
- It does not determine the final duty. US Customs and Border Protection determines final duty at the time of entry based on the HTSUS classification, country of origin documentation, and any applicable trade-remedy stacks.
- It does not file a customs entry on your behalf or replace a licensed customs broker.
- It does not look up the HTSUS sub-heading for a specific SKU — the category picker collapses the catalog to chapter-level averages. Sub-heading-specific rates can be materially different.
- It does not store your input on a server. All computation runs in your browser; nothing is sent to a backend.
Sources and retrieval dates
The rate tables in this tool are pinned to dataset version 2026.06.10, last verified on 2026-06-10. Rates older than 30 days will display an amber “rates may be outdated” badge in the receipt.
- Executive Order 14257 — Reciprocal Tariffs (IEEPA) (retrieved 2026-06-10)
- Executive Order 14309 — China-specific IEEPA tariff (retrieved 2026-06-10)
- USTR Section 301 Final Determination (Lists 1-4) (retrieved 2026-06-10)
- CBP HTSUS 2026 Revision 1 (retrieved 2026-06-10)
- 19 CFR 24.23 — Merchandise Processing Fee (retrieved 2026-06-10)
- White House Proclamation — End of $800 de minimis (Jul 30 2025) (retrieved 2026-06-10)
FTC-style disclaimer
Results are estimates only and do not constitute customs, legal, or tax advice. CBP determines final duty at entry. Rates change frequently — check the dataset version above. If the parcel value, regulatory exposure, or classification uncertainty is material to your decision, retain a licensed customs broker before placing the order.
When to use this tool vs a licensed customs broker
Use this tool for consumer-scale Temu / Shein / AliExpress orders where you want a rough estimate of the post-de-minimis duty burden before clicking buy.
Use a licensed customs broker if the parcel value exceeds $2,500 (formal entry threshold), if you are importing for resale, if the HS classification is ambiguous, or if you need a binding ruling. A broker can also evaluate FTA eligibility (USMCA, KORUS, etc.) and exclusion processes that this tool does not model.