PSA: How to avoid the latest DHL Express rip-off

Quick public service announcement: When receiving goods from China via DHL, CAREFULLY EXAMINE the customs invoice. 

If you're not familiar with the customs clearance process, here's how it works: When you import goods from China, the sender will include an invoice that shows the (primary) tariff code of the product(s) and their value.  DHL then uses that code to determine which other tariff codes apply to that product (i.e. which"reciprocal tariffs" or "China Tariffs" apply). So, on the invoice you should see the primary code as well as maybe 3 or 4 other tariff codes (those start with a 9).

DHL does not provide this breakdown on the invoice (a violation of their duties as a customs broker), therefore concealing from you the breakdown that they used to calculate the total duty amount, and making it impossible for you to verify that they did so correctly.  The reason for concealing this vital information from the importer is very simple: DHL is aware that their duty calculations are guesswork, and by concealing the China tariff codes they make it impossible for the importer to dispute it. 

DHL refuses to provide the breakdown until a threat of legal action and BBB complaint is filed.  Once you have the breakdown, look for line-items with a 50% duty rate, then look up the HTS code online.  You might find that this code relates to products with aluminum or steel content, subject to an additional 50% duty. 

DHL wrongly assumes that a number of products are made of steel or aluminum, even when those products are traditionally NOT made of aluminum or steel.

DHL has admitted that it cross-references the primary tariff code to the 50% aluminum tariff code and charges that 50% tariff WITHOUT any knowledge of the presence of aluminum in the product.

The best way to avoid getting ripped off by DHL is to simply not use DHL.  Ask the shipper to NOT use DHL, and/or to use a DDP shipping method (in DDP, you prepay the duties to the shipper, and the shipper pays that to the carrier, so you know upfront what the duty amount is).