Import Duties from Australia to USA Complete Rates, Rules & Cost-Saving Opportunities

United States Import Duty Structure for Australia

The United States and Australia maintain a robust trade relationship governed by the Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement (AUSFTA). Most qualifying Australian goods enter the U.S. duty-free, provided they meet specific rules of origin and are accompanied by proper certification. However, importers must still account for administrative fees and potential excise taxes that apply regardless of trade agreements.

• Ad Valorem Duty: Calculated as a percentage of the customs value of the goods. Under AUSFTA, most Australian imports qualify for a 0% rate.
• Specific Duty: A fixed charge levied per unit of measurement, such as weight or volume. These are common for certain agricultural commodities like meat and dairy.
• Compound Duty: A hybrid tax consisting of both a percentage of value and a fixed unit charge. This structure is often applied to specific textile and footwear categories.
• Section 301: Supplemental duties targeting unfair trade practices. Australian goods are generally exempt from the high-profile China-related Section 301 tariffs.
• Antidumping/Countervailing (AD/CVD): Special duties imposed on goods sold below fair market value or benefiting from foreign subsidies. Importers must check for active orders on specific Australian industrial products.
• Excise Tax: Internal revenue taxes applied to specific commodities like petroleum or alcoholic beverages. These are paid in addition to standard customs duties upon entry.
• Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF): An administrative fee for processing formal entries. For AUSFTA-originating goods, this fee is typically waived.
• Harbor Maintenance Fee (HMF): A fee assessed on shipments arriving via ocean freight to support port maintenance. It is calculated at 0.125% of the cargo value.