Import duty on promotional products into the USA is the cost most importers discover only when the courier calls about a stuck shipment. The good news: most custom promotional products — pins, medals, keychains, lanyards, patches — carry 0–7% duty, and small commercial shipments under $800 enter duty-free. The bad news: misclassifying your products or ignoring Section 301 tariffs on Chinese-origin goods can add 25% overnight. Here is the practical guide.

HS Codes for Common Promotional Products

• Enamel pins, badges, lapel pins — HS 7117.19 (imitation jewelry): duty ~5.5%–8%
• Challenge coins, medals (base metal) — HS 7907.00 or 8306.29 depending on metal: ~2.5%–5%
• Embroidered patches — HS 5810.91: ~7%
• Keychains (base metal) — HS 8308.90: ~2%
• Lanyards, textile straps — HS 6307.90: ~7%
• Silicone/PVC items — HS 3926.40: ~5.5%

Exact rates depend on final country-of-origin rules and material composition. Verify your specific item with the official USITC Harmonized Tariff Schedule lookup before ordering.

The Section 301 Question for China-Origin Goods

Promotional products from China are covered by Section 301 tariff lists. Many custom metal and textile promotional items fall under List 3/4A at an additional 25% +. This is why landed-cost math matters: a $0.80 coin with 2.5% base duty but 25% Section 301 lands with ~$0.21 in duty per unit plus customs brokerage. However — de minimis shipments valued under $800 entered via courier have historically cleared without duty collection, which is why many small buyers never see a duty bill. Do not build an annual program on de minimis assumptions; US customs policy on this threshold continues to tighten.

How to Compute Landed Cost Correctly

Landed cost = unit price + tooling amortization + freight (air ~$4–6/kg promotional goods) + insurance + duty (base + Section 301) + brokerage ($15–75 per courier entry). A factory quote of $0.60/patch at 1,000 pcs typically lands at $0.95–$1.15 all-in. We provide a landed-cost worksheet with every quote — ask for it explicitly, because the invoice value we declare is what duty is computed on.

Documentation That Prevents Stuck Shipments

Every Triumph Gifts export includes: commercial invoice with HS code, packing list, certificate of origin, and material safety documentation where applicable. Getting the HS code right at invoicing is our job; confirming it matches how you will sell the goods is yours. Buyers importing for resale should also check marking requirements (country-of-origin labeling is mandatory on the product or immediate packaging).

Strategies That Legally Reduce Duty

• Consolidate shipments — one entry, one brokerage fee instead of five
• First Sale valuation — for large programs, ask your customs broker about declaring the factory price rather than middleman price
• Material substitution — reclassifying from a 7% textile to a 2% metal category is not always possible, but asking costs nothing
• Compare our US-fulfilled option — goods warehoused domestically transfer without repeated import entries

Related reading: if you are weighing sourcing geography, see challenge coins USA vs China for the full cost comparison.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who pays the duty — me or the factory?

Under standard EXW/FOB terms, the US importer pays. DDP pricing can be negotiated where we bear duty on consolidated programs.

Do I need a customs broker?

For courier shipments under $2,500, the courier acts as broker automatically. Formal entries above that need a broker.

Is duty charged on samples?

Commercial samples valued under $800 typically clear free; we mark them correctly to avoid delays.

What about importing to Canada or the EU?

Canada applies similar classifications with GST at entry; the EU charges VAT (19–21%) plus duty 2.5–6%. We ship with full documentation worldwide.