Regarding U.S. Tariffs

Updated on August 19th, 2025

In July of 2025, we published an article regarding the new tariffs placed on Japan by the United States of America. We explained that the De Minimis Exception would still be enforced until July 1, 2027, which meant that all packages with a total order value under 800 USD would be exempted from any customs fees with certain exceptions.

As of August 1, however, the current administration has decided to suspend the De Minimis Exemption by August 29, 2025, and finalized a 15% tariff on all shipments from Japan. Despite this, much remains unclear. As per the Executive Order enacted on August 1, orders under 350 USD would receive an 80 USD charge, while orders exceeding 350 USD would automatically receive a 200 USD charge. Supposedly, this would be the case for six months following the end of De Minimis on August 29, 2025.

However, with the finalization of tariffs for Japan at 15%, it is possible that the 15% tariff will supersede the blanket charges of 80 / 200 USD. We sincerely apologize for our own uncertainty, but we are unfortunately beholden to the sudden, often unexpected changes to US Trade Policy like everyone else.

As always, we will continue to provide updates regarding this situation with any new developments, and if there is one benefit to the constant change in trade policies, it’s that it is always possible the suspension of De Minimis will be reversed.

If you have a question or a suggestion that wasn’t answered here, please contact us any time at info@wancher.com.

Below is the previous update regarding US tariffs, which are no longer applicable.

Regarding the sweeping tariffs placed upon Japan, South Korea, and many other countries by the United States of America, Wancher has received an influx of inquiries regarding their orders from the supportive American fountain pen enthusiasts. These questions have ranged from “How much will I have to pay in tariffs” to “Is there any possible way to counteract the tariffs for my order?” Here, we will provide a detailed answer to each frequently asked question pertaining to the tariffs, but the most important point is this: Thanks to the De Minimis Exemption, all commercial orders from Japan under 800 USD will not be affected by the tariffs.

What is De Minimis?

Since 1930, the De Minimis Exemption (loosely translated to The Minimum Things in Latin) meant that as long as the total value of your order was under 800 USD, and it was a commercial item as opposed to an industrial or professional item, it would be exempted from any tariffs (taxes). Since mid-May, the United States has abolished the De Minimis Exemption for China and Hong Kong specifically, which means that everything was subject to tariffs, regardless of the total value. Commercial goods (i.e. fountain pens and watches and other products) will still qualify for the exemption, which means your order will not incur any tariff costs if the total value is under 800 USD.

Will my orders always qualify for De Minimis?

Our team is dedicated to monitoring the situation in the United States and their trade policies, but as of July 16, 2025, all commercial orders from Japan will still qualify for the exemption. However, with the passing of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” on July 4, 2025, it is likely that the De Minimis threshold will be completely removed on July 1, 2027. However, this bill can still be amended if Congress submits new legislation for approval, so there is no guarantee that the removal of the De Minimis Exemption will ever be enacted.

What can you do for us?

Although our team cannot make amendments to the trade policies of the United States, it has been our policy to analyze each and every order prior to fulfillment. What this means is that whenever a customer makes an order of multiple pens amounting to a total order value above 800 USD, we always contact the customer and ask if they would like their order to be divided into two separate orders, thereby reducing the total order value, and remaining well below the threshold for De Minimis. As always, we are committed to helping our valued customers wherever they are based, and we are open to feedback on how to improve our services. If you have a question or a suggestion that wasn’t answered here, please contact us any time at info@wancher.com.