Importing from Europe to the US in 2026

The short version

• Most goods from the EU currently pay 10% in total US duty, and most Swiss goods 12.5%.
• Every commercial shipment now goes through a formal customs entry, whatever its value.
• Food needs an FDA-registered maker, prior notice for each shipment, US-compliant labels and a US importer running an FSVP.
• Wine needs a licensed US importer and approved labels.
• Buying “DDP” (delivered duty paid) means one price covers all of this, and you simply receive the goods.

What you'll pay

A delivered price from Europe is made of the same building blocks every time:

US duties in 2026

US tariffs on European goods changed several times in 2025 and 2026. In February 2026 the Supreme Court struck down the tariffs imposed under emergency powers in 2025, and a temporary 10% surcharge followed. Since July 24, 2026, new tariffs under Section 301 apply:

• European Union: 10% in total for most goods. The regular duty is topped up to reach 10%; if the regular duty is already 10% or more, nothing is added.
• Switzerland: 12.5% in total for most goods, on the same basis.
• Exceptions: some products are exempt, and goods covered by Section 232 (steel, aluminum and some others) follow separate, often higher, rates.

Rates can change quickly. We check the current rate for your product's exact tariff code (HTS) when we quote, and the duty is included in your delivered price.

No more duty-free small shipments

The US suspended the $800 “de minimis” exemption for all countries on August 29, 2025. Small commercial parcels that used to enter duty-free now need a customs entry and pay duty, like any other shipment. For buyers, consolidating orders into fewer, larger shipments usually keeps costs down.

Food and chocolate

• The maker's facility must be registered with the FDA.
• The FDA must receive prior notice before each shipment arrives.
• Labels must follow US rules: Nutrition Facts panel, allergen statement, ingredient list in English, and net weight in US and metric units.
• A US-based importer must run a Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) for each supplier. That's usually the buyer. We gather the maker's documents for it.

Chocolate, olive oil, sea salt and other shelf-stable foods are among the easiest European foods to import once these points are covered.

Wine and spirits

Alcohol is the most regulated category. The importer needs a federal basic importer's permit from the TTB, each label needs an approved COLA (Certificate of Label Approval), and the FDA must receive prior notice. After import, wine is sold through each state's distribution rules. We work with licensed importers and distributors, and with retailers buying through one.

Soap and cosmetics

True soap, made from fats and lye and sold only for cleaning, is regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Once a product claims to moisturize, deodorize or treat the skin, it's a cosmetic regulated by the FDA. Under the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act (MoCRA), facilities must be registered, products listed, and labels must include a US contact for reporting problems. Traditional Marseille soap sold as plain soap usually falls in the first group.

EXW, FOB, DAP or DDP?

The Incoterm in your quote decides who handles each step. For a first import, DDP is the simplest by far.

How long it takes

Sources

• Federal Register: Section 301 actions, July 28, 2026
• Alston & Bird: USTR imposes 10 to 12.5 percent Section 301 duties
• FDA: Importing food products into the United States
• TTB: Importing bottled alcohol beverages
• FDA: Is it a cosmetic, a drug, or both? (Or is it soap?)
• CPSC: Soap business guidance

This guide is general information, not legal or customs advice. Check the rules for your exact product before you import.