Guide for New Zealand shops · checked 13 October 2026
US import duty for New Zealand Etsy sellers
Every US order from a New Zealand shop now pays US duty, and Etsy makes you prepay it. NZ goods are in the higher 12.5% tariff group, and unlike Australia or Canada there's no trade agreement to soften it.
Want the answer for your own case? Use the tool, then read on for the details.
Work out my US prices freeWhat changed
- 29 August 2025: the US ended duty-free entry for parcels under US$800 from every country.
- 9 July 2026: Etsy started requiring non-US shops to prepay US duty through the label (delivered duty paid).
- 24 July 2026: a 12.5% Section 301 tariff on New Zealand goods replaced the old 10% surcharge. It has no end date.
How much a US order pays
US duty on NZ-made goods is the normal US rate for the product plus 12.5%, charged on the price the US buyer pays. New Zealand has no free trade agreement with the US, so the normal rate always applies.
| Item | Normal rate | Total from NZ |
|---|---|---|
| Art prints, cards, stickers, books | 0% | 12.5% |
| Candles, soap, skincare | 0% | 12.5% |
| Wooden signs and kitchenware | 3.2% | 15.7% |
| Sterling silver jewellery | 5% | 17.5% |
| Ceramic mugs and plates | 9.8% | 22.3% |
| Cotton T-shirts | 16.5% | 29% |
Normal rates are starting estimates from the US tariff schedule; confirm your code at hts.usitc.gov. Goods made outside New Zealand pay the rate for the country they were made in.
Worked examples
These assume Etsy's 6.5% transaction fee plus about 3% payment processing and a NZ$3 duty-handling charge on the label. The new US price keeps your take-home the same as a New Zealand sale.
| Listing (NZ$) | Lost per US sale if unchanged | New US price |
|---|---|---|
| Silver pendant, NZ$80 | NZ$17.00 | NZ$103.29 |
| Stoneware mug, NZ$45 | NZ$13.04 | NZ$64.12 |
| A4 art print, NZ$35 | NZ$7.38 | NZ$44.46 |
The new price is higher than "price plus duty" because duty and Etsy's fees are both charged on the higher US price.
Ways to soften it
- Lead with low-duty products in the US: prints, cards, stationery, candles and skincare pay only the 12.5%.
- Bundle. The label's handling charge is per parcel, so it costs less per item when buyers order several.
- Raise US prices, not all prices. Set a separate US price on each listing so New Zealand and other buyers don't pay for the US tariff. How to set US prices.
In the free checker, choose New Zealand under "Made in" and NZD as your shop currency. Selling from Australia? Read the Australian guide.
Sources: Zonos Section 301 rate table, EY tax news. Read 13 October 2026.