Illustrative situation
A wholesale buyer asks a brand for a price valid for six months on a hoodie order. The brand imports from overseas and worries that a tariff change between now and delivery could turn the order unprofitable.
Main answer
To quote safely when duties and tariffs can change, state which terms the price covers, keep the quote validity short, separate duty from the product price or add an adjustment clause, and update your landed cost whenever a rate changes. Never promise a fixed landed price that depends on a rate you do not control.
Know what is in the price
Decide whether your price includes duty or excludes it. Under DDP terms the seller bears duty at the time of delivery, so a rate change falls on the seller unless the contract says otherwise. Under FOB or FCA terms the buyer pays duty on entry, so a change falls on the buyer. Write the term and place on every quote.
Check the rate on the entry date
Duty depends on the HTS classification, the origin and the rules in force when goods are entered. The USITC publishes the current tariff schedule, and CBP explains how entry rules apply, so check both when you quote. Additional measures can apply to some origins, and they can change faster than the schedule.
Add protection to the quote
Use a short validity period, such as thirty days, and state that prices exclude duties or that a duty change will be passed on at cost with evidence. For long contracts, set a review date or a trigger. Keep terms plain so customers can follow them.
Wording example
A plain clause can say that prices exclude duties, taxes and fees, and that any change in applicable duties between quote and shipment will be passed on at cost with supporting documents. Have a lawyer review the clause for your contracts before you rely on it.
Related reading
See the undershirts manufacturer page for the products behind this topic, and read what is a tech pack next. Both are general guides, not a quotation.
Plan for the downside
Hold a margin buffer, ask your supplier whether any cost sharing is possible, and model the effect of a higher rate before you commit. If an order is at risk, tell your customer early instead of waiting for entry.
Fact, recommendation, uncertainty
- Established fact
- Duty depends on classification, origin and the rules in force when goods are entered, and the USITC publishes the current tariff schedule.
- Recommendation
- State the price terms, use short validity dates, separate duty or add an adjustment clause, and recalculate when rates change.
- Uncertainty
- Tariff measures can change quickly and differ by origin, so check the current schedule and official notices.
Sources and further reading
- U.S. International Trade Commission — Harmonized Tariff Schedule
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection — Importing into the United States: A Guide for Commercial Importers
Sources checked on 24 October 2026. Standards bodies sell the full texts; we cite what their public pages state. General information, not legal or technical certification advice.
More perspectives from the team
Three further views on the same question, each by function. They add conditions and limits to the main answer; they are editorial notes, not customer reviews.
Sino Finetex Editorial Team Sourcing
Ask suppliers how long their prices are valid and whether they will share any cost change. Limit: factories rarely absorb duty changes on goods they do not import. Ask for a validity date in writing on every supplier quote.
Sino Finetex Editorial Team Product selection
Keep a version of each price list that excludes duty so customers see both parts. Limit: customers may prefer one all-in price, so explain the reason. Keep the duty line visible on price lists so customers can compare.
Sino Finetex Editorial Team Quality & care
Do not cut inspection or testing to recover margin when duty rises. Limit: savings from skipping checks can be lost to returns and rework. Keep inspection scope fixed in the contract even when prices are renegotiated.
Related products
- Undershirts Manufacturer
Sino Finetex product page
- Tank Tops Manufacturer
Sino Finetex product page
- Products
Sino Finetex product page
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