Harare,(New Ziana) — Personal sport-hunted trophies shipped to the United States will not face new import tariffs, according to the Safari Club International (SCI).
Trophy hunting is the practice of hunting animals for the purpose of acquiring body parts, typically the head, hide, or antlers, as trophies, with the items often displayed as a record of the hunter’s success.
The US International Trade Commission recently released the 2025 Harmonised Tariff Schedule (Revision 6), clarifying the tariff classifications.
The SCI stated that the schedule exempts trophy importations for US citizens and residents, specifying that all game animals, including birds and fish, killed abroad and imported for non-commercial purposes are free from duty fees.
Moreover, the new tariffs confirm that hunting trophies fall under Chapter 98, which lists goods exempt from additional tariffs.
The SCI is an international organisation dedicated to promoting sustainable wildlife conservation and defending the freedom to hunt. It represents nearly 150 chapters and millions of hunters globally.
Members of the SCI, including US residents, hunting operators, taxidermists, and international shipping agents, had expressed concerns about how the new tariffs would affect hunting trophy shipments.
Michael Coppersmith, national coordinator for Coppersmith Global Logistics, highlighted the positive implications of the new tariff schedule.
“This development ensures that the shipping process for sport-hunted trophies will remain uninterrupted by the recent tariff changes, helping to streamline logistics and reduce costs,” he said.
However, hunters should note that other items included in trophy shipments may still incur tariffs as curios, art, furniture, and purchased goods, as well as trophies that hunters did not personally hunt, may be subject to additional fees.
Any items made from animals that hunters did not hunt themselves could also face tariffs, the SCI explained.
The wildlife sector plays a vital role in the Zimbabwean economy through nature-based tourism, sport hunting, and agriculture. According to a 2023 Zimbabwe Biodiversity Economy (ZBE) report, sport hunting generates significant revenue, averaging US$28 859 per hunter and contributing US$33 million to the Gross Domestic Product(GDP).
In 2019, over 33 percent of foreign tourists visited state-protected areas, generating 4.1 percent of GDP and providing 5.6 percent of employment through nature-based tourism, the ZBE report said.
New Ziana
