Since tariffs against China are 145% now, wouldn’t it be cheaper to fly to China, buy the thing, and then return?

r/

Of course, that’s not the case for dirt-cheap things, but wouldn’t it be much cheaper for expensive things?

Comments

  1. I-am-not-Herbert Avatar

    Wouldn’t you still need to pay the tariffs when entering the US with your merch?

  2. catwhowalksbyhimself Avatar

    You still need to pay when flying with stuff. Duties, it’s called.

  3. Dr0ff3ll Avatar

    Well, only if you intend on smuggling goods into the USA.

    https://www.cbp.gov/travel/international-visitors/know-before-you-visit/customs-duty-information

    “Dutiable refers to articles on which Customs Duty may have to be paid. Each article has a specific duty rate, which is determined by a number of factors, including where you acquired the article, where it was made, and what it is made of. Also, anything you bring back that you did not have when you left the United States must be “declared.” For example, you would declare alterations made in a foreign country to a suit you already owned, and any gifts you acquired outside the United States. American Goods Returned (AGR) do not have to be declared, but you must be prepared to prove to U.S. Customs and Border Protection the articles are AGR or pay Customs duty.”

  4. Kriskao Avatar

    Welcome to my world. I live in Bolivia where we have had tariffs for all imports since forever. 35% on average.

    An item such as a MacBook Air in a local shop cost about $2K. While it cost $900 (for now) in the USA (plus sales tax that varies from state to state)

    Depending on the season, you can get round trip air tickets for the US for about $800

    So yes. For us it was cheaper to fly there and buy a laptop there.

    China is a lot further and tickets would cost a lot more. But a MacBook Air should be even cheaper there.

    And about having to pay customs fees when you arrive with your new item, there are exceptions for items for personal use and you usually can claim you have no intention to resell the item specially if you don’t bring the box with you.

  5. bjran8888 Avatar

    As a Chinese, I have another idea: how about you come to China and buy goods in China and mail them to Canada/Mexico?

  6. arcxjo Avatar

    Only if you smuggle it past Customs.

    Good luck getting a table saw up your ass.

  7. OnceMoreOntoTheBrie Avatar

    Just get them sent to Russia. Zero tariffs after that

  8. Harpeski Avatar

    What will eventually cone from this?

    Some manufacturers will open a facility in the usa: yeah.

    BUT times have changed. Labor is expensive here, so the 1000 of cheap jobs In China will not result in 1000 jobs here: maybe 400 jobs and the rest automated.

    Also labor unions are weak in the USA, so it will be very low payed job.
    I bet some earning less than working at Mcdo.

    The rest will just put other label on product.

    And because.of tarrifs, everything will be more expensive

  9. magikarpe94 Avatar

    Customs would like a word with you

  10. crafcic Avatar

    Congratulations, you have discovered smuggling.

  11. dcmso Avatar

    You still would need to declare the goods when coming back. And pay the needed taxes on them.

    That why Costums exist.

    Edit grammar

  12. an_alf_is_sure Avatar

    Idk do the math on the value of a flight, value of goods and how much you value your time. Disregard duty fees since I assume you intend on snuggling.

  13. LNGBandit77 Avatar

    You would technically be an importer at that point ha

  14. Qualityhams Avatar

    No, It’s smuggling if you don’t pay duties.

  15. Robcobes Avatar

    Can’t the EU just buy things on the cheap, put a “made in EU” sticker on it and sell it on for a hefty profit?

  16. Endle55torture Avatar

    Good luck with that. They will make you pay the taxes when going through customs

  17. steadfast-owl-town Avatar

    People already do that with health care.

  18. vctrmldrw Avatar

    That’s called ‘importing’.

  19. NetStaIker Avatar

    The internet discovers smuggling. You pay at customs otherwise lmao

  20. Busty-Cutie6 Avatar

    My sister literally built her entire wedding decor business around this concept.

  21. Impressive-Sky2848 Avatar

    You can just fly to a country near you that has it at a better price. There may even come a time where you can catch a bargain at the duty-free shop.

  22. goot449 Avatar

    Only if customs doesn’t catch you.

    If they catch you importing anything without declaring it, they will seize and destroy it. If you declare the item(s), you’re still paying tariffs.

  23. MiceAreTiny Avatar

    You still need to pay the import taxes… 

  24. BullPropaganda Avatar

    There’s this neat thing called customs

  25. Select_Comfort_2690 Avatar

    Hahaha thank you I needed that!

    On the bright side: It’s getting damn expensive to own the libs.

  26. Opposite_Fox2398 Avatar

    it’s cheaper to make a deal with someone from a foreign country that buys the product from china for you, maybe a pseudo factory, buy the product from china with 1 less screw and complete the product in Australia and label it “assembled in Australia”.

  27. iareagenius Avatar

    Sure, that $5 useless kitchen gadget, now costs $12. Or you could fly to China and buy it and return for about $3,500 🤣

  28. hotinhawaii Avatar

    Tariffs are just an import tax. When you bring it into this country, you pay the tariff. This applies to the item if it’s on a boat, plane, or in your luggage on a plane. You go through customs and pay the appropriate tariff for that product.

  29. El_Dentistador Avatar

    Do you have anything to declare?