It's like lets say this individual lives in a state with no sales tax like Delaware (US) purchasing stuff from a seller living in Fukuoka (Japan), the value of this item is ¥30,000 ($189.50) while the same being sold in America is jacked up in price at around $349.99 MSRP retail. However, they're hit with a notification their package is being held due to tariffs waiting to be paid before it can be delivered (even in a state with 0% sales tax).

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The simplest answer to this why question is that them's the rules.

A tariff is also different from a sales tax. One doesn't preclude the other. I'm sure there are places in the US where you would end up paying both. The tariffs are a federal instrument of regulating cross border trade. Sales tax or the lack thereof is a state decision.

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