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[Ryan D]

I have a friend in Indonesia and she wants to send me some south sea pearls. I cannot find anything anywhere on the internet pertaining to laws. Some of them are made into jewelry, but most of them are loose. they are 10 to 15mm in diameter. Where can I find out what the laws are and what are they worth?

 

[pattye]

Giving your question a bump, Ryan, but don't have any answers for you, perhaps others will~

 

[jshepherd]

You can import the pearls. If the pearls are set into jewelry, you'll have to pay 5.5% icustom duty bringing them into the United States. If the pearls are loose, there is no duty levied.

If the pearls are being shipped to you loose (unset), just have the shipper include the following on the shipping invoice and you should be fine:

7101.22.6000 Cultured Pearls Loose

 

[pearlescence]

That code is the same around the world
Into any EU country and some others you will have to pay the local Value Added Tax or purchase tax or whatever though (20% for me! Boo)
And the shipping company will charge for the customs clearance process.