Understanding US Import Tariffs and EU's Value Added Tax

At Bondtech, we are committed to providing high-quality technology to customers around the world. Recently, however, some of our US customers have been surprised when contacted by carriers such as FedEx or UPS regarding additional costs due on delivery. We’d like to clarify why these costs arise and how the process works.

When goods are imported into the United States from abroad, US Customs may apply tariffs (sometimes referred to as duties) on certain categories of products. These tariffs are set by US trade authorities and collected at the border, not by us as the manufacturer.
This means:

• We do not add tariffs to your invoice.
• Tariffs are determined by US customs regulations and collected upon entry into the country.
• Products with different categories and countries of origin will incur different duty fees.
• Your carrier (FedEx, UPS, etc.) acts as an intermediary: they clear your shipment through customs, pay the tariff on your behalf, and then invoice you for reimbursement before releasing your package.

Some customers confuse US tariffs with VAT (Value Added Tax) in the European Union. These are two very different systems:

• EU VAT is a sales tax we must apply to all private customers inside the EU; to all Swedish companies; and to all non-VAT-registered companies outside Sweden but inside the EU. It is charged directly on our invoices and collected by us, then passed to the tax authorities. We do not invoice VAT to any private or corporate entities outside of the EU.
• US tariffs are not a sales tax and do not appear on our invoices. They are import duties imposed by US customs on specific product categories, payable at the time of import.

When you order from us as a US customer, your total cost includes:

• The product price (invoiced by us).
• Shipping cost (invoiced by us).
• The applicable US tariffs (invoiced by the carrier).
• Small clearing customs service fee (invoiced by the carrier).

We make most Bondtech products ourselves in Sweden. US’ EU tariffs will apply. Some parts we use though, are not made by us and are mostly imported from China. These include all stepper motors; and most fans, heaters, and cables. These incur China tariffs when you buy them from us as separate spare parts or accessories.

We understand that unexpected costs are frustrating. Unfortunately, tariffs are outside our control, and neither we nor our shipping partners can waive them. Our role is to manufacture and deliver the technology you need; the role of customs is to apply the import regulations of the United States.

We remain committed to helping our US customers navigate this process as smoothly as possible. If you have questions about tariffs or customs clearance, your carrier (FedEx, UPS, etc.) can provide detailed information specific to your order.