The impact of the well-publicized matcha shortage is in full effect. One compounding issue we have in the United States is the tariff imposed on all items from Japan.
In an environment full of "noise" we wanted to share the facts about our own experience with the recent tariffs and their impact.
Who pays for tariffs imposed on Japanese tea?
We do.
What is the process?
1. A supplier (e.g. Marukyu Koyamaen) creates an order and sends us an invoice. This invoice contains the cost of goods and shipping fees.
2. We pay the invoice and the supplier gives the package to the shipping provider. In this example, that provider is DHL.
3. DHL holds the order at the port of entry in the United States. They send us an invoice that includes the (new) tariff and recently increased DHL fees (see image above as an example of a recent invoice containing the 15% tariff and additional fees). This invoice is in addition to the shipping fees previously paid in the original invoice.
4. We pay the Customs Duty Invoice and DHL/Customs releases the order.
I want to highlight that we, SUGOi Sweets / MOKOMA Tea, pay all these fees, not "Japan" and not our Japanese suppliers. In return for these approx. 18% extra fees, we receive no additional services or benefits from the beneficiaries of the fees.
*Note, dollar values on the DHL invoice have been calculated into percentages and some account numbers have been adjusted.
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