Shipping from Europe to USA
Ship parcels and freight from Europe to the United States — US customs clearance, HTS duty codes, FDA requirements and the best carriers for transatlantic shipping.
The USA is Europe's largest non-EU export market. US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) processes millions of international parcels annually — the system is efficient but requires precise documentation. B2C shipments under the $800 de minimis threshold clear customs duty-free, making the US the most generous market for small parcel e-commerce. Commercial shipments above $800 require formal entry with HTS codes and import duties. Section 301 tariffs apply to goods of Chinese origin — but EU-made goods are unaffected. FDA requirements apply to food, supplements and medical devices. Understanding the US system allows European shippers to serve US customers reliably at competitive rates.
Customs Process for USA
Required Shipping Documents
| Document | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial Invoice | Mandatory | Full value in USD or EUR, HS/HTS code, country of origin, description. Undervaluing is a federal offence. |
| Airway Bill / Tracking Number | Mandatory | Carrier tracking number links to the electronic customs declaration. |
| Certificate of Origin (EUR.1 / REX) | Conditional | Required to claim preferential tariff rates under trade agreements. EU-origin goods may qualify for reduced rates on some HTS codes. |
| FDA Prior Notice | Conditional | Mandatory for all food, beverages, dietary supplements, animal feed. Filed online 8+ hours before air arrival. |
| Packing List | Conditional | Required for commercial shipments over $800 for customs entry. |
| ISF (Importer Security Filing) | Conditional | Required for ocean freight — filed 24 hours before vessel loading. Not required for air freight. |
| FDA Food Facility Registration | Conditional | All food exporters to USA must have FDA-registered facility. Free registration at fda.gov. |
| FCC Declaration (electronics) | Conditional | Required for RF-emitting electronics (WiFi, Bluetooth, cellular). FCC ID must be on device. |
Import Duty & Tax Rates
| Category | Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Under $800 (de minimis) | 0% | Section 321 duty-free clearance. No duties, no formal entry. Most EU e-commerce benefits from this. |
| Clothing & textiles (HTS 61–62) | 12–32% | High duty category — EU-origin clothing qualifies for 0% under some US-EU agreements in specific categories. |
| Electronics (ITA products) | 0% | WTO ITA: smartphones, laptops, cameras, servers — 0% duty from EU. |
| Wine (2204) | 6.3¢/litre | US federal excise + TTB importer licence required. State laws vary. |
| Olive oil (1509) | 5% | Standard HTS duty on EU olive oil. FDA Prior Notice required. |
| Machinery (HS 84–85) | 0–3.7% | Most EU machinery enters at low or zero duty. |
| Automobiles | 2.5% | Passenger vehicles from EU — 2.5% standard tariff. |
| US Sales Tax (state VAT) | 0–10.25% | US has no federal VAT. State/local sales tax is collected by seller for B2C (Wayfair ruling). Not a customs charge. |
Best Carriers to USA
| Carrier | Service | Transit | Tracking | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DHL Express | Worldwide Express | 2–3 days | ✓ | Best EU–USA carrier. Frankfurt hub direct to US gateways. Strong customs team, electronic pre-clearance. |
| FedEx | International Priority | 2–3 days | ✓ | FedEx Memphis hub advantage for US East Coast. Best for USA East Coast and Midwest delivery. |
| UPS | Worldwide Express | 2–4 days | ✓ | Strong B2B US delivery. UPS customs brokerage handles complex entries efficiently. |
| DHL Economy Select | Economy | 5–8 days | ✓ | Economy option for non-urgent EU–USA shipments. Uses consolidated air freight — slower but cheaper. |
| PostNL / La Poste | Tracked postal | 10–21 days | ✓ | Cheapest for small parcels under 2 kg. Slow but tracked via USPS for final mile. |
Prohibited & Restricted Items
Expert Tips for Shipping to USA
- ▸For EU e-commerce selling to US consumers, keep individual order values under $800 where possible — the US de minimis threshold means duty-free entry for the vast majority of consumer goods, making the USA the easiest major market for small-parcel EU exports.
- ▸US consumers pay no import VAT (the US has no federal VAT), but state sales tax now applies to most B2C e-commerce following the 2018 Wayfair ruling. As an EU seller, you are generally required to collect state sales tax once you exceed each state's economic nexus threshold (typically $100k sales or 200 transactions per year).
- ▸Always declare the full commercial value in USD or EUR on the invoice — US CBP cross-checks declared values against retail prices and undervaluation is one of the most common causes of shipment detention and fines for EU exporters.
- ▸For food exports: register your food facility with FDA before your first shipment (free, takes 1–2 days at fda.gov). File FDA Prior Notice for every food shipment via the FDA PN system at least 8 hours before air arrival. Non-compliance results in automatic detention and potential refusal.
- ▸Section 301 tariffs (7.5–25% additional) apply to goods of Chinese origin — but EU-origin goods are NOT subject to Section 301. Always clearly state 'Made in EU' / 'Made in Germany / France / Italy' etc. as country of origin on all commercial invoices for US customs.
- ▸The US Importer of Record (IOR) for your US buyer is technically responsible for customs compliance. For B2C sales, you as the EU seller often act as the de facto IOR. For high-value commercial B2B shipments, ensure your US buyer has a CBP-registered customs broker or IOR entity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the US import duty threshold (de minimis)?
The US de minimis threshold is $800 per shipment per day per person. Shipments with declared value under $800 are cleared duty-free under Section 321 with no formal customs entry required. This is by far the world's highest de minimis threshold and makes the USA the most accessible major market for EU e-commerce exports. Above $800, standard HTS import duties apply.
Do I need to collect US sales tax when selling to US customers from the EU?
Following the 2018 South Dakota v. Wayfair ruling, US states can require remote sellers (including EU-based sellers) to collect state sales tax once you exceed economic nexus thresholds — typically $100,000 in annual sales or 200 transactions per year in a given state. Each state has different rates (0–10.25%) and rules. US sales tax is separate from import duties and is not collected at customs — you collect it at checkout and remit to each state.
How long does shipping from Europe to the USA take?
Express services (DHL Worldwide Express, FedEx International Priority, UPS Worldwide Express): 2–4 business days door-to-door including US customs clearance. Economy services (DHL Economy Select, consolidated air): 5–10 business days. Economy postal (PostNL, La Poste tracked to USPS): 10–21 business days. Customs clearance typically adds 0–1 business days for well-documented shipments.
Do I need FDA registration to send food to the USA?
Yes. Food businesses exporting to the USA must: (1) Register the food facility with FDA — free at fda.gov, takes 1–2 days, renew every 2 years. (2) File FDA Prior Notice for every food shipment at least 8 hours before air arrival at the US port of entry. (3) Meat and poultry additionally require USDA FSIS inspection. Non-registered exporters and shipments without Prior Notice are automatically detained.
What is Section 301 and does it affect EU exports to the USA?
Section 301 tariffs are additional US import duties imposed on Chinese-origin goods — 7.5–25% on top of standard HTS rates. EU-origin goods are NOT subject to Section 301 tariffs. If you manufacture in the EU and export to the USA, you pay only the standard HTS rate. However, if your product contains Chinese-made components, the country of origin classification may depend on the manufacturing process — substantial transformation in the EU generally establishes EU origin for customs purposes.
Which carrier is best for shipping from Europe to the USA?
For express (2–3 days): DHL Express Worldwide is the most reliable for EU–USA with the best customs clearance track record from European gateways. FedEx International Priority is competitive, particularly for US East Coast delivery. UPS Worldwide Express is strong for B2B and heavy shipments. For economy (5–10 days): DHL Economy Select. For small lightweight parcels under 2 kg where speed is not critical: national post services (La Poste, PostNL) connecting to USPS final mile are cheapest.
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