Short answer: a Japanese kitchen knife with a wooden handle pays about 31.1% US import duty in October 2026 — 6.1% regular duty plus a 25% Section 232 steel tariff on the full value — plus 0.4¢ per knife. Couriers usually add a customs processing fee on top.

Which tariffs apply to a Japanese kitchen knife

• Regular (MFN) duty. Kitchen knives with fixed blades are classified under HTS heading 8211.92. With a wooden or other handle (8211.92.90.30) the rate is 0.4¢ each + 6.1%; with a rubber or plastic handle (8211.92.20.00) it is 0.8¢ each + 4.6%.
• Section 232 tariff on steel derivatives: +25% on the full value. Since the June 2026 update, Annex I-B of the Section 232 proclamation lists knives under 8211.92 (and knife sets under 8211.10). HTS 9903.82.09 adds 25% to the regular duty. There is no reduced rate for Japan.
• Not the 12.5% “Japan rate”. The Section 301 tariff in force from July 24, 2026 caps most goods of Japan at 12.5% including regular duty, but steel derivative articles are excluded from it (HTS 9903.05.90).

No more duty-free small parcels

The $800 de minimis exemption has been suspended for courier shipments since June 24, 2026 and for postal shipments since July 24, 2026, and the law repealing it takes effect on July 1, 2027. Every knife ordered from Japan is now dutiable, however cheap it is.

For postal shipments, the simplified “postal informal entry” cannot be used for goods subject to the additional Chapter 99 tariffs after a transition period ending October 22, 2026. Since October 15, 2026, Japan Post accepts US-bound parcels at all post offices that handle international mail, with advance declaration and prepaid duties for goods worth up to USD 2,500 (see our buying guide). Many knife shops use couriers such as DHL, FedEx or UPS instead.

Carrier fees

Couriers that pay the duty for you charge a processing fee. DHL Express lists a duty-tax processing fee with a minimum of $17.50, and FedEx and UPS charge similar fees (a percentage of the duty with a minimum). The calculator uses $17.50 by default; change it to match your carrier.

Japanese consumption tax

Sales exported from Japan are exempt from Japan’s 10% consumption tax, so a shop that ships to you should not charge it. Some Japanese shops display prices including tax — check that the tax is removed at checkout.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the US tariff on a Japanese kitchen knife?

As of 2026-10-21, a kitchen knife with a fixed blade and a wooden handle (HTS 8211.92.90.30) pays 0.4¢ per knife plus 6.1% regular duty, and a 25% Section 232 tariff on the full value because knives are listed as steel derivative articles. That is about 31.1% in total. With a rubber or plastic handle (8211.92.20.00) it is 0.8¢ per knife plus 4.6% + 25%, about 29.6%.

Doesn’t the US–Japan deal cap tariffs at 12.5% or 15%?

The 12.5% all-in rate for goods of Japan under the Section 301 tariff that started on July 24, 2026 does not apply to steel derivative articles such as kitchen knives; they are excluded under HTS 9903.05.90 and pay the Section 232 tariff instead.

Is there still a duty-free allowance for small orders?

No. The $800 de minimis exemption is suspended for courier shipments (from June 24, 2026) and for postal shipments (from July 24, 2026), so even a single knife is dutiable.

Do I also pay Japanese consumption tax?

Exports from Japan are exempt from Japanese consumption tax, so shops shipping abroad normally charge the price without the 10% tax. Buying in person in Japan is different: tax-free shopping rules apply.

Sources

1. USITC Harmonized Tariff Schedule, heading 8211.92
2. USITC HTS, 9903.82.09 (Section 232: applicable duty + 25%)
3. The White House, Annex I-B: 25% Section 232 Tariff on Full Value (June 2026)
4. USITC HTS, 9903.05.90 (steel derivatives excluded from the Section 301 tariff)
5. CBP CSMS #68253075: Section 232 changes (April 2026)
6. Federal Register 2026-12669: suspension of de minimis for postal shipments
7. DHL Express (US): customs services and duty-tax processing fee
8. National Tax Agency (Japan): consumption tax exemption for exports

Tariffs change often. We re-check these rates at least every three months and whenever a new proclamation is published. Last checked 2026-10-21.