Get used to it, at least as long as we have this administration. This is what a trade war looks like.
This has nothing to do with that. The import fee + brokerage fee was always there for higher-priced miners. Best way to deal with it is to have it billed to your FedEx/UPS account. No delays that way.
What is the process of doing that? Is there a field already on Bitmain's online form when ordering? Great potential solution thank you for sharing.
On the shipping address form I put my FEIN into the EIN/SSN box and FedEx account number into the IMPORTER NO box. Not sure about UPS, I think it somehow linked to my account without actually providing the account number, perhaps by address.
Make sure the recipient's name and address is the same on Bitmain site and on your FedEx/UPS account.
There is some one-time import paperwork needed (FCC & customs forms I think), which FedEx/UPS will request from you when the first shipment arrives. This will establish your importer identity and then all subsequent shipments should go smoothly.