Buying Japanese Pokémon cards in the US: tariffs, duty and shipping

By Harrison King. Updated 11 November 2026.

Every card you buy from Japan now pays US duty, however cheap it is. In the example below, a ¥15,999 card came to $134.01 at a US door through Buyee, or $130.75 through ZenMarket. A ¥3,333 card came to $40.19, almost double its price, because the fees and shipping stay the same however little the card costs.

This guide covers buying through a proxy and shipping to the US. US rules changed several times in 2026, so everything here was checked in November 2026 and the date is at the top.

What changed

• De minimis is gone. Parcels under $800 used to come in duty-free. That ended for every country on 29 August 2025, so every parcel now goes through customs, as annoying as that is.
• Japan Post stopped, then came back. In late August 2025 it stopped taking most parcels to the US. It now takes them again, but only with the duty paid before the parcel leaves Japan.
• The rate on Japanese goods has moved. Trading cards (tariff code 9504.40) are duty-free under the normal US tariff. Since 24 July 2026, though, a Section 301 duty on goods from Japan brings anything under 12.5% up to 12.5%. So Japanese cards pay 12.5% of their value.

Who pays the duty, and when

By Japan Post. Every purchase worth up to $2,500 must have its duty prepaid through a CBP-approved service, such as Zonos or SafePackage, before Japan Post will accept it. Your proxy does this and adds it to your bill, so there's nothing to pay when it's delivered. The duty-free limit of $100 you may have read about only covers gifts between individuals and documents, not things you've bought. The prepay service also charges a small fee, even when there's no duty.

Through Buyee. Buyee prepays duty on every US parcel and charges a flat 15.5% of the item price at checkout. That's more than the 12.5% duty. Buyee set it in April 2026 and hasn't announced a change since the July rate change.

Through ZenMarket. ZenMarket also prepays US duty, and requires it for UPS and FedEx parcels. The example below assumes it charges the 12.5% duty itself; check the figure it shows at checkout.

By courier, paying on delivery. DHL can still bill the duty when it delivers. You pay the duty plus DHL's fee for paying it on your behalf, about 2% of the duty with a minimum of around $17. FedEx charges the greater of $15 or 2%, and UPS 3.5% with a $14 minimum plus $2.50. Courier parcels also pay US Customs' processing fee, $2.69 on a small parcel.

Over $2,500, a parcel needs a formal customs entry, usually through a broker.

Shipping

Japan Post's International Air Packet to the US costs ¥1,200 up to 100 g, ¥1,410 up to 200 g and ¥1,620 up to 300 g. Not every proxy offers every Japan Post service to the US at the moment, and some only offer EMS with duty prepaid, which costs more. Check the options your proxy shows at checkout.

Couriers cost several thousand yen even for one card. They're worth it for expensive cards, big orders, or when you want it fast.

Mercari's own app

Since June 2026, US buyers can also buy from Mercari Japan directly through Mercari's Global app, without a proxy. Mercari handles payment, shipping and tracking. It offers card authentication for $11.90 a card, which is optional under $300 and included at no extra cost on eligible cards from $300. Check the shipping and duty it shows before you pay, and compare with a proxy.

Worked examples

These use the European Central Bank rate on 9 November 2026 (¥1 = $0.006331) and assume your bank or card adds 1.5% when it converts currency. Shipping is an estimate for one card by Air Packet.

A ¥15,999 card through Buyee, by Japan Post

The same card through ZenMarket

ZenMarket's service fee is higher, but its duty is lower, and here the duty wins. The more expensive the card, the more Buyee's extra 3% adds up: on a $300 card it's about $9.

A ¥3,333 card through Buyee, by Japan Post

A ¥42,300 card through ZenMarket, by DHL with duty paid on delivery

Ways to pay less

• Buy cheap cards together. On a $20 card, the fees and shipping cost more than the duty. Several cards in one parcel share the shipping, and the duty stays the same percentage.
• Compare Buyee and ZenMarket on expensive cards. The difference between 15.5% and 12.5% grows with the price.
• Let the proxy prepay the duty. Paying a courier on delivery adds $15 to $17 or more in fees.
• Don't ask anyone to mark the parcel as a gift or declare a lower value. It's customs fraud, and if the parcel is lost, the cover only pays out on the declared value.

What might change

US Customs has proposed a new rule for low-value shipments, open for comments until 7 December 2026. It isn't in force yet. Tariffs on Japanese goods changed several times in 2026 and could change again, so check the current rate before a big purchase.

If there is anything I got incorrect, please correct me at harrison@yenlens.com.