UPS has just updated an important notice for its US site:Starting April 13, 2026, the PGA Disclaimer Fee will be increased from $1 to $2.50 per disclaimer.
This fee may seem small, but if you have a wide variety of goods, many customs declarations, or frequently encounter shipments requiring compliance assessments during US import clearance, it can quickly accumulate. Clients involved in US imports, transshipment, sample shipments, and compliance-sensitive goods should pay close attention recently.
What is this fee?
UPS includes this in its official import fee explanation. PGA (Partner Government Agency) The relevant processing is included in the customs clearance fees. Simply put, when goods enter the United States, if they involve agencies such as the FDA, EPA, Alcohol and Tobacco Tax Service, and APHIS, UPS needs to transmit information or confirm regulatory requirements on their behalf.
in PGA Disclaimer FeeThis was confirmed by UPS after review.
- This shipment, although it may seem to involve regulatory issues...
- But ultimatelyNo need to report to relevant government agencies
- Therefore, the fee will be charged at the "Disclaimer/Confirmation of Inapplicability" step.
In other words, this is neither tariffs nor shipping costs themselves, but...Additional processing fees during the customs clearance compliance assessment process.
How to adjust this time?
According to a UPS announcement on its official website on April 8, 2026:
- Effective date: April 13, 2026
- Before adjustment: $1.00 per disclaimer
- After adjustment: $2.50 per disclaimer
The increase is not small, especially when looking at individual items. 150% rose.
Which customers are more easily influenced?
This adjustment will primarily affect the following scenarios of US imports:
1) The product category itself is prone to encountering regulatory scrutiny.
for example:
- Food, health products, nutritional supplements
- Cosmetics, skincare products, and aromatherapy products
- Daily necessities involving chemical ingredients
- Shipments related to plants, wood products, and agricultural products
- Some electronic, battery, and environmentally related products
These goods do not necessarily need to be formally declared to PGA, but they are more likely to be subject to judgment by the system or customs clearance process.
2) Goods with a relatively large number of declarations in a single shipment
If a shipment contains multiple product names, materials, and uses, it's often easier to break it down into multiple categories for assessment. While the base cost per shipment may seem low, the cumulative cost increases significantly as the number of lines increases.
3) Long-term B2B customers who import from the US via UPS
For customers with frequent small orders such as those making samples, replenishing stock, purchasing accessories, and handling after-sales repairs, they may not have paid much attention to these customs clearance surcharges before. Now that the rates have increased, the differences will be more easily seen in the monthly bills.
What does this mean for the shipping end?
The most direct impacts are threefold:
Costs will rise
Previously, each item cost $1, which many people wouldn't have paid much attention to; now it's $2.50, especially for shipments with multiple product names or multiple declaration lines, the additional cost will be more noticeable.
The quality of the application is more important
If the product name is too general or the material and intended use are unclear, it is more likely to require additional review or regulatory assessment during customs clearance. Many goods that could have been clearly explained in one go will end up incurring unnecessary processing fees and time.
US import quotes need to be more detailed.
When providing UPS import quotes to clients in the US, we shouldn't just look at freight and fuel surcharges. For shipments involving regulatory assessments, it's best to include customs clearance surcharges and potential PGA-related fees to avoid additional charges later.
How to minimize the risk of these types of expenses?
You can do these things first:
1) Write the product name declaration in more detail.
Don't just use broad terms like sample, parts, accessories, cosmetics, and electronics.
Write as clearly as possible:
- Product Name
- Material
- use
The clearer the declaration, the easier it is for customs clearance to be judged in one go.
2) Control the complexity of declaration within a single vote
If the value of the goods, the timeframe, and business requirements allow, try to avoid mixing too many miscellaneous items in one shipment. The more diverse the product categories, the easier it is to push up customs clearance costs.
3) List customs clearance surcharges separately when quoting import prices from the United States.
Especially for categories such as food, cosmetics, health products, chemical peripheral products, and wood products, it is much easier to explain clearly in advance than to make up the bill afterward.
4) First confirm whether UPS is truly the right option.
If your goods are frequently subject to US regulatory scrutiny, in addition to considering delivery time, you should also examine the differences in customs clearance surcharges among various carriers. Don't just look at the initial weight and discounted rates.
If you want to estimate the overall cost first, you can use CZL's tools to make a basic assessment:
- Shipping cost inquiry:https://exp.czl.net/fee
- Additional Fee Inquiry:https://exp.czl.net/surcharges
- Remote area search:https://exp.czl.net/remote
CZL's suggestion
This update isn't exactly an "industry-wide earthquake," but for those who frequently ship parts imported from the US, it's the kind of thing that...Each ticket may not seem like much, but it will accumulate over time.Changes in costs.
If you're currently handling imports from the US, sample shipments, compliance-sensitive goods, or shipments with multiple product names, it's recommended to include UPS's PGA Disclaimer Fee in your pricing and customs declaration process. Clearly document everything before discussing shipping methods; this will save you a lot of trouble later.
Official source
- UPS Homepage Announcement:https://www.ups.com/us/en/home
- UPS Import Fee Explanation:https://www.ups.com/us/en/shipping/international-shipping/import-fees