Vinyl records, CDs and cassettes exempt from tariffs, border checks

US Customs and Border Protection confirmed on August 29 that vinyl records, compact discs and cassettes will remain exempt from the tariff changes that took effect that day, but sellers and marketplaces warned that increased border checks and shifting carrier policies are likely to delay deliveries and complicate sales of music merchandise. The exemption stems from the classification of physical music as informational materials, which federal law shields from the new de minimis tariff rules that otherwise remove duty-free status for most low-value imports.

The changes follow an executive order earlier this year that expanded presidential authority to impose import levies. Under the new implementation, packages valued below the previous de minimis threshold of about $800 may now be subject to import taxes based on the country of origin and recent trade arrangements. Reports indicate businesses in the United Kingdom will face levies of roughly 10 percent of product value, sellers in parts of Europe about 15 percent, and significantly higher rates for some Asian exporters in certain cases. US Customs said products classed as informational materials, including books, magazines and...