HTSBase vs Tariffs API
Developers who already know their HTS codes and need U.S. import duty with Chapter 99 stacking.
What Tariffs API does
Tariffs API is a U.S. import duty calculator and API built on USTR and CBP data. You send HTS codes and it resolves the duty, including Section 301, 232 and 338 and Chapter 99 stacking. The Developer plan adds bulk lookups and an MCP server.
Signup: Self-serve. 14-day free trial on Starter and Developer; a card is required at signup. Enterprise is scoped on a call.
Published pricing
- Starter: $99 a month ($74 a month billed yearly), 1,000 calls source, checked October 2026
- Developer: $199 a month ($149 a month billed yearly), 10,000 calls source, checked October 2026
- Enterprise: Custom, above 10,000 calls source, checked October 2026
No per-call overage price is published; the page says they contact you before charging above the plan.
- Free: $0, 250 calls a month, no overage source, checked October 2026
- Starter: $29 a month, 2,000 calls, then $0.01 a call source, checked October 2026
- Growth: $99 a month, 15,000 calls, then $0.007 a call source, checked October 2026
- Scale: $199 a month, 50,000 calls, then $0.005 a call source, checked October 2026
One call returns classification, duty and landed cost for the U.S. or the EU.
Coverage
| Tariffs API | HTSBase | |
|---|---|---|
| Signup | Self-serve | Self-serve |
| U.S. import duty | Yes | Yes, base rate plus trade programs |
| EU duty and VAT | Not published | Yes, CN 2026 duty and import VAT |
| Classification from a product description | Not listed; it takes HTS codes as input | Yes, in the same call as duty and landed cost |
| Chapter 99 stacking (Section 301, 232) | Yes | Yes, Section 301 and 232 measures stacked and shown |
| EU EUR 3 per item duty (from July 1, 2026) | Not published | Yes |
| MCP server for AI agents | Yes, on the Developer plan | Yes, at /api/mcp |
"Not published" means we could not find it on Tariffs API's public pages in October 2026. It may still be available; ask Tariffs API.
When to choose Tariffs API instead
- You already have classified HTS codes and only need U.S. duty.
- You want bulk resolution of up to 200 HTS codes per request.
- You want saved codes and seats for a team inside their app.
When HTSBase fits
- You want to start free and pay by the month without talking to sales.
- You have product descriptions, not codes, and want the code, duty and landed cost from one call.
- You import into the U.S. and need Section 301 and 232 measures shown on top of the base rate.
- You sell into the EU and need the EUR 3 per item duty and import VAT in the estimate.
- You want an AI agent to call it through MCP.
Sources
- Tariffs API pricing, checked October 2026
See our own numbers on the accuracy page and the status page.
250 free calls a month.
Classification, duty and landed cost for the U.S. and EU in one call.