The short answer: duty follows four facts, not a rate you can look up
Duty is assessed from the classification code, the declared value, the country of origin, and whatever trade measures apply on the day the goods enter. Change one of those and the amount changes, which is why experienced buyers assemble those four facts and let a licensed broker price them.
The lines below are general guidance, not tax or customs advice. Confirm classification, current rates, and entry procedure with a licensed customs broker.
The following is an illustrative procurement scenario, not a claim about a named customer or a published Qiuqiu Atelier order.
A first-time US buyer ordered 240 gold-plated brass pendants on DDU terms, because that unit price looked lower than the DDP quotation. The shipment cleared, and three weeks later the carrier invoiced duty plus a disbursement fee that had never entered the budget. The next order went out with a broker-classified SKU list, material detail on the invoice, and one Incoterm across every quote. The unit price did not change. The surprise did.
Chapter 71 is where jewelry is classified
Almost every jewelry import lands inside Chapter 71 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule, which covers precious metals, stones, and articles made from them. Within it, two headings carry most fashion and fine jewelry.
| Heading | Covers | Qiuqiu Atelier examples |
|---|---|---|
| 7113 | Articles of jewelry of precious metal | 925 sterling silver rings, chains, and charms |
| 7117 | Imitation jewelry, base metal, plated or not | Gold-plated brass earrings, necklaces, and bracelets |
The heading follows the material of the piece, not the marketing name. A gold-plated brass earring is imitation jewelry because the body is base metal, and a 925 silver chain sits in a different heading even when it carries the same gold tone on top.
Two practical consequences follow. Rates differ between the headings, and the description on your commercial invoice has to support the code you claim. Paperwork reading “gold earrings” over a carton of plated brass studs is a mismatch a customs officer will find, and it holds the entry while the broker sorts it out.
Never take a duty rate from an article
HTSUS rates are revised, and additional duties on certain Chinese-origin goods have been added, removed, and excluded in waves over the past several years. Anything written about “the duty on jewelry” is a snapshot of one moment. Ask your broker to classify the exact SKU against the schedule in force on the date of entry, and to confirm whether an additional measure currently applies to that code and origin.
Value deserves the same care. Duty is assessed on the declared transaction value, normally what you paid the factory, not your retail price. Declaring low is a compliance exposure rather than a saving, and it weakens any later insurance claim.
What the factory can hand you
A factory holds the facts a broker classifies from: base material per SKU, plating or finish route, stone type, and country of origin. Qiuqiu Atelier states base material and finish in every quotation for this reason, but a factory’s HS suggestion is input to the broker’s decision, not the final answer.
The $800 de minimis threshold
US customs has long allowed shipments valued under $800 per importer per day to clear without duty or a formal entry. That is the de minimis rule, and it is what makes a single sample by courier so straightforward.
Eligibility rules have been revised in recent years, and the treatment of Chinese-origin goods was specifically addressed in that process. Confirm the current position with your broker before you build a direct-to-consumer model that depends on the threshold.
Where it still applies, de minimis fits samples and small test drops. It is not a bulk strategy: a production order from 60 pieces per design upward is entered formally. Splitting one order across several parcels to stay under $800 is not planning, and the exposure costs more than the duty would have.
DDP, DDU, and who is the importer of record
Incoterms decide who books the freight, who clears the goods, and who pays the duty. Two terms dominate quotations from Chinese factories.
- DDP (Delivered Duty Paid): the seller delivers with duty paid, so one invoice number covers everything. That single number is why DDP feels easier for a first sample run.
- DDU, now written as DAP (Delivered At Place): the seller delivers to a named place and the buyer handles duty and clearance. The carrier usually advances the duty at the border and bills you afterwards, with a disbursement fee on top.
Whichever term you agree, check who is named as importer of record. US Customs expects a commercial importer with a US presence, normally your company, your EIN, and a broker filing on your behalf. A Chinese factory cannot be placed in that role simply because the invoice says DDP.
The document set for a first shipment
- Commercial invoice: seller and buyer, SKU-level description, material, quantity, unit and total value in the agreed currency, country of origin, Incoterm, and the classification code.
- Packing list: cartons, dimensions, weights, and contents per box. Your broker, the carrier, and your warehouse all work from it.
- Certificate of origin: available on request, and required for certain preferential treatments or for proving origin outside a specific measure.
- Bill of lading or air waybill: issued by whoever books the freight.
- Compliance or test documents where the order requires them: confirmed per material, destination market, and order scope.
The description is the part you control. “Assorted fashion jewelry” invites inspection. “Gold-plated brass stud earrings, CZ set, 300 pieces, USD [unit price] per piece, made in China” supports the code, the value, and the origin in one line.
Making landed cost predictable
Landed cost is unit price plus freight, duty, brokerage, disbursement fees, and inland delivery. Some of those move with the market, and none of them can be pinned down by guessing.
- Agree the classification with a broker before the first bulk order, not after the shipment is booked.
- Ask the factory for material, finish, and origin detail per SKU so the invoice matches what is in the carton.
- Compare factory quotations on the same Incoterm, and write that Incoterm into the purchase order.
A first US order is not difficult when the material facts arrive before the goods do. Each order after that repeats a known process.
If you are preparing a first US-bound order, send the reference image and target quantity through the Qiuqiu Atelier quote form. We will confirm base material, finish, and which shipment documents we can provide for your market, so your broker has clean facts to classify from.
FAQ
Are gold-plated brass earrings subject to US import duty?
They normally classify under the imitation jewelry heading of Chapter 71, and whether duty is payable depends on the rate in force and any additional measure on that code and origin. Your broker confirms the current treatment from the material description, not the words “gold plated.”
What is the $800 de minimis rule for jewelry imports?
Shipments valued under $800 per importer per day have traditionally cleared without duty or formal entry, which covers samples and small direct-to-consumer drops. Eligibility has been revised, particularly for Chinese-origin goods, so confirm the current position with your broker.
Can my Chinese factory clear US customs for me?
A factory can supply the material, value, and origin information an entry needs, and can ship under DDP through its own logistics partner. The importer of record on a US entry is normally a US-based commercial importer, so confirm that role before the goods leave China.
Which documents should I prepare for a first jewelry import?
A commercial invoice, packing list, and bill of lading or air waybill are standard, with a certificate of origin available on request. Compliance or test documents are confirmed per material, destination market, and order scope.