Import Duty on Nutritional Supplements 2026: Navigate Duties, Cut Costs, Stay Compliant

United States Import Duties for Nutritional Supplements

The United States customs framework for nutritional supplements is primarily governed by the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS), typically falling under Chapters 21, 29, or 30. Importers must navigate a multi-layered tax structure that includes standard ad valorem rates, administrative processing fees, and potential trade enforcement actions. Accurate classification is critical for determining the total landed cost and ensuring regulatory compliance with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Types of Duties and Taxes:

Ad Valorem Duties: These are the primary tariffs calculated as a percentage of the transaction value. Most nutritional supplements carry a rate between 0% and 6.4%, depending on the specific HTS code and country of origin.

Section 301 Duties: These are additional trade enforcement duties applied specifically to products originating from China. Depending on the specific HTS subheading, these add an extra 7.5% or 25% to the base duty rate.

Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF): An administrative fee charged by CBP for most formal entries to cover processing costs. For formal entries, it is 0.3464% of the cargo value, subject to specific minimum and maximum dollar caps.

Harbor Maintenance Fee (HMF): This fee is mandatory for all shipments arriving via ocean freight at a U.S. port. It is calculated at 0.125% of the total cargo value to fund port infrastructure maintenance.