Tariff / Duty

Tariff/Duty is a tax levied by a sovereign state or separate customs territory on goods and articles entering or leaving its territory, and it is a core component of foreign trade costs. In foreign trade customer management, tariffs directly affect customers' procurement costs, pricing strategies, and willingness to place orders, so salespeople need to understand the tariff policies of different markets. Use cases include: when quoting, it is necessary to clarify whether tariffs are included (such as the difference between DDP and DAP), assist customers in calculating the total import cost, and use free trade agreement (FTA) rules of origin to help customers reduce or exempt tariffs. Notes: tariff rates vary by commodity HS code, country of origin, and trade agreement, and may be adjusted with policy changes; Duty usually refers to an ad valorem tax levied on the value of goods, while Tariff can broadly refer to the tariff system or specific tariff items; the two are often used interchangeably, but Tariff is more macro-level. Unlike value-added tax (VAT), tariffs are levied in a lump sum at the time of customs clearance and are not included in subsequent deductions. In business, it is necessary to confirm with the customer the party responsible for customs clearance to avoid abandoned goods or disputes caused by tariff disagreements.