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How Importing Japanese Tea Customs Duty Works (2026 Updated)
Updated July 2026: This guide has been revised to reflect that standard non-flavored Japanese green tea still enters the United States duty-free at a 0% base rate; that the 15% U.S. tariff on Japanese goods introduced in August 2025 was struck down by the Supreme Court on February 20, 2026 and ended on February 24, 2026; that the temporary 10% Section 122 import surcharge that replaced it expressly exempts tea; and that the United States suspended its $800 “de minimis” duty-free allowance for low-value parcels on August 29, 2025, with a permanent repeal set for July 1, 2027.
Tea has been a popular drink all over the world. One of the more significant markets would be the United States and Europe. Let us show you how Japanese Tea Customs Duty works, either if you want to import as a seller or you just want to have the first hand of your Japanese tea for consumption. However, selling by importing tea in another country is not easy. You usually buy in bulk for shipping or bring it with you when you return to the destination country. Together with the sale cost of the tea comes underlying expenses such as customs duties.
Importation of Japanese Tea is for Clearance by the Country’s FDA
The importation of tea, coffee, spices, or any food for that matter, is subject to the scrutiny of a country’s Food and Drug Administration or its equivalent. Still, usually in most countries, they call it as such, or the FDA. The FDA takes into consideration the admissibility of the product in its country. This requires the filing of a Prior Notice with the FDA to be registered to import their products.
Upon identification by the FDA, the products to be imported, some of its ingredients may be subject to restrictions or special duties. These ingredients are usually restricted or limited for importation because the country protects the very same product domestically. In detail, for example, if an importer would import products the ingredients of which are locally available in the importing country. Then the government would impose restrictions to let the imported product enter the country to protect the local manufacturers of the same product or the ingredients therein. Because of this, governments would impose custom duties on the said importation.
Knowing the Limit in Importation as to Quantity of Japanese Tea and the Special Duty Rates
For example, in the United States, there are no restrictions or quotas on the amount you can import. However, some products which contain restricted items may be subject to some special duties.
However, this policy is without exemption. Usually, countries enter into trade relations treaties or agreements with other countries to give the same rights for both importers. For example, suppose an importer from one country could be duty exempt. In that case, the country party to an agreement could also seek duty exemption for importing the said country. While they do not give exemption, others would provide special duty rates lower than other importing countries, not a party to such agreement. The most general agreement among countries regarding customs duty rates and exemptions would be the World Trade Organization or the WTO Agreement. This sets out all the rules for products to be imported to qualify to an exempted or lower customs duty rate than other importation of the same products. The countries and the parties to the agreement must respect the rules stated herein to give the same and equal treatment agreed upon to the other member countries’ importers. The lower special rate offered to member countries is what we call preferential tax rates. For example, the importation of tea would fall under agricultural products. This would have a different category for the applicable preferential rates that the member countries in the WTO Agreement are entitled to.
On the other hand, non-member countries may also benefit from the rates stated in the WTO. For example, suppose a member country has a bilateral agreement with a non-member country. In that case, the customs duties rate stated in WTO will apply. This rule is according to the principle of the “most favored nation clause.” This clause means that the most favorable customs duty rate is the customs duty rate stated in the WTO. Therefore, this rate should apply to the other country as a party to the bilateral agreement since this rate is the most favorable customs duty rate compared to regular and different rates. Japan is a WTO member, so its tea normally receives these most-favored-nation rates (the general column of the U.S. tariff schedule) rather than the higher rates reserved for a handful of countries without normal trade relations.
Can I import Japanese tea without paying any Customs Duty?
However, suppose these are imported as commercially imported goods in a small package only for personal consumption. In that case, the importation is usually customs duty exempt. This importation is what we call “duty-free.” For example, buy tea from your Japan travel as a souvenir, or you just want to take home Japanese tea for your consumption. While this is technically an importation as you brought an imported product from the country of origin to another country, this would not be subjected to customs duty if this would come in a small package.
How much then should you pay for that Japanese souvenir that you bought from another country. For example, in the United States, low-value shipments used to clear duty-free under an $800 “de minimis” threshold. That shortcut is no longer available: the United States suspended duty-free de minimis treatment for all countries on August 29, 2025, and Congress has set a permanent repeal for July 1, 2027. On the other hand, suppose you do not want any customs duties to be paid from the Japanese tea you bought upon going home to the United States. In that case, be aware that as of 2026 even low-value tea parcels generally need a formal or informal customs entry rather than the old $800 free-entry shortcut, so check the current rules at import.
This would be the same case in other countries, such as for example, France. It allows tax-free up to 22 euros worth of imported goods. You may import goods free for up to 150 euros worth of imported goods for customs duties. This means that when you bought an imported goods and brought them home to France, you will not be imposed any tax if the goods would be 22 euros or less, and customs duty if the goods would be worth 150 euros or less. If the goods would be worth more than the said amounts, then that is the time that you have to pay.
To fully appreciate charges that are most likely needed to be paid, there are basically 2 types of charges: taxes and customs. As mentioned in the France example earlier, taxes are not to be imposed for goods imported in 22 euros or less per type of goods. This threshold of 22 euros is called “tax de minimis.” Taxes are basically charged on the purchase transaction. On the other hand, it must be remembered that the purpose of customs duty is to impose taxes on goods destined to be on international borders. These custom duties are charged for the protection of a sector, economy, environment, or jobs in the destination country. The threshold in the France example a while ago is for 150 euros or less for a type of goods. This is called “customs de minimis.” In summary, depending on the amount, goods may be charged with taxes but not customs duties.
So this means that Japanese tea may be imported from one country to other parts of the world. The customs duties will again depend on the importer’s bulk order or personal consumption according to the customs duty laws in the country of destination. Thus, if Japanese tea is to be brought in the United States, or France, depending on the quantity and the amount of the imported goods, it could be dutiable.
Most countries would rely on the amount and quantity of the goods to be imported to decide whether it is dutiable or not. For example, If you would import Japanese tea in bulk, most countries would impose customs duty because, by default, the quantity is not merely for personal consumption. That is why you cannot simply hoard in bulk while getting away with payment of customs duty.
However, suppose customs officials would be dubious about the amount of item you have brought, even if the quantity seems to be personally consumed. These are called luxury items such as high-end bags or pieces of jewelry or even cars. In that case, the customs authority might still impose customs duty for your importation even if you purchased one item.
While most countries would custom duty exempt small importation of small value, other countries would give special rates based on different factors. For example, since France is a member of the European Union’s Common Customs Tariff, it offers preferential rates to imports from countries with which the European Union has signed agreements. On the other hand, as mentioned earlier, custom duties are for a sector’s protection. Therefore, even if imported is in small quantities, it would still be imposed with custom duties. For example, the sectors of fabrics and items of clothing and foodstuffs still experience protection measures. In Europe, the dairy industry, sugar and confectionery, meat, fruit and vegetables, and fish and fishery products are given the highest tariff protection. This means that even if you import these items in small quantities back to Europe, specific duties may still be imposed as these are protected sectors in the continent.
Since custom duties laws of countries vary depending on the quantity, amount, rates, and the item to be imported, some sellers offer hassle-free importation of Japanese tea. They let you pay all the customs duties, fees, and charges upon checkout right away. This would let you know the total costing of the shipping without going into a surprise for additional expenses. The customs duties will depend on the destination aside from the quantity of the orders. The customs duties will depend on the destination aside from the quantity of the orders. Some countries do not impose taxes and duties for importation, such as Hong Kong as it is basically a duty-free destination. However, there are also countries that do not have a tax and customs-free cap in every importation such as Adorra, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Bangladesh, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, India, Jordan, Kenya, Morocco, Monaco, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Switzerland, Ukraine, and Venezuela, to name a few. Other countries would impose taxes and duties if the number of goods imported exceeded the stated limit in their customs laws. For a more precise amount per country, you may want to check the official customs websites of the country where you are planning to bring the Japanese tea.
What are the current U.S. tariffs on Japanese green tea in 2026?
The rules shifted a lot between 2025 and 2026, so it helps to know where things stand now. Under the standard U.S. tariff schedule, plain non-flavored Japanese green tea, which covers most loose-leaf sencha, gyokuro, and matcha, carries a base duty of 0%. That is not new. Standard Japanese green tea has long entered the United States free of the ordinary customs duty, and it still does in 2026. Flavored green tea sold in small retail packings is treated differently: it carries a base rate of 6.4%, although qualifying Japanese-origin flavored tea receives a reduced 3.2% rate under the U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement. If you import blended or flavored tea, confirm its exact classification and the current rate at import.
For a short window there was also an extra layer on top of that schedule. The United States applied a 15% tariff on nearly all Japanese-origin goods starting August 7, 2025. It did not last. On February 20, 2026 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the law used to impose it did not authorize those tariffs, and the 15% charge on Japanese goods ended on February 24, 2026. The government replaced it the same day with a temporary 10% import surcharge on goods from all countries under a different law. Tea is expressly exempt from that surcharge. Every tea classification sits on the list of excluded products, so Japanese green tea pays none of it. The surcharge runs on a 150-day clock and is scheduled to lapse in late July 2026 unless it is extended, and it is being challenged in court, so confirm the live position before you ship.
The practical result for 2026 is that standard non-flavored Japanese green tea again enters the United States effectively duty-free: a 0% base rate plus an exemption from the temporary surcharge. Because these emergency trade measures have been changing quickly, check the current rate at the time of import rather than relying on any single figure.
What if I Want to Import in Bulk for Japanese Tea Business Purposes?
Suppose you intend to import in bulk for commercial purposes. In that case, it is really better to coordinate with the customs authority of the country of destination. This advice would help you in the long run in planning and assessing how much it would cost you the importation.
Upon the arrival of the goods in the destination country, a declaration must be needed regarding the item’s description, the amount involved, and quantities, among others. A declaration form is usually filled up for this procedure to be assessed by customs officials before making the necessary payment for customs duty if you are liable. Upon payment of all the required fees, including customs duties, is the only time that the customs officials will issue an Authority to Release Imported Goods or “ATRIG.” This document must be shown to the warehouse keeper where the imported goods are temporarily kept. Do take note that there is a toll of delaying the procedure for releasing your goods as warehouses are for a rental basis.
Duty is assessed based on the product’s price and does not yet include other charges such as freight, shipping, and insurance. So, make sure that you attend to all these necessary costings when importing tea in your country.
Need Assistance on Japanese Tea Importation?
You may want to collaborate with shippers that handle importation from your specified country to make the process smoother. Usually, these shippers would send you shipping computations or links for shipping calculator to have estimated as to the total amount of fees and customs duty you have to pay for the importation depending on the bulk or quantity of the Japanese tea to be imported. You may also include other items for importation alongside your imported Japanese tea, and it will all be considered as one shipment.
This shipping and importation of Japanese tea in your country have been a long-standing service that we offer. Therefore, if you are interested in Japanese Tea importation either as a business or you simply want to have a taste of quality, authentic Japanese tea, you may contact us through this website, and we are more than happy to assist you.
Click here to contact Green Tea Merchant.
How Tea Customs Duty Works — Frequently Asked Questions
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About the author
Kei Nishida
Author, CEO Dream of Japan
Certification: PMP, BS in Computer Science
Education: Western Washington University