Tariff Guide

Tariff Guide Generator

Create comprehensive, professional-grade tariff and customs guide documents for any country or customs territory. Output both Markdown and self-contained HTML with modern tech-doc styling.

Input Handling

Determine what the user needs:

1. Country/territory specified -- User names a country or customs territory

(e.g., "Japan", "ASEAN", "UK", "Australia"). Research and write the full guide.

1. Outline provided -- User provides a chapter outline. Use it as the

structure and fill in with researched content.

1. Update existing guide -- User has an existing guide that needs updating.

Research current developments and update the relevant sections.

1. Comparison guide -- User wants to compare two or more systems. Structure

as a comparative document with side-by-side analysis.

If the user provides minimal context, ask:

• Which country or customs territory?
• Target audience? (e.g., U.S. importers entering this market, local

compliance professionals, general trade audience)

• Should it cross-reference existing guides? (e.g., "assume reader knows

the U.S. system")

• Output format? (default: both Markdown + self-contained HTML)

Research Phase

Before writing, gather comprehensive information. Launch parallel research agents covering these topic areas:

Research Area 1: Structure and Institutions

• Governing legislation (customs act, tariff act, trade law)
• Key agencies (customs authority, trade tribunal, trade policy body, tax

authority)

• Classification system (HS-based structure, national digits, how many digits)
• Tariff schedule structure (rate columns, preferential treatments)
• How to access the official tariff schedule (URLs, databases, tools)

Research Area 2: Rates, Valuation, and Origin

• Valuation basis (FOB, CIF, or other -- this is a critical distinguishing

feature)

• MFN tariff profile (average rates, rate ranges by sector)
• Free trade agreements (list all FTAs with partner names, years, codes)
• Rules of origin (non-preferential, preferential, proof of origin mechanisms)
• Preferential programs (GSP equivalents, developing country preferences)

Research Area 3: Additional Duties and Taxes

• Anti-dumping and countervailing duty system (retrospective vs. prospective,

current major measures)

• Safeguard measures (any active safeguards, TRQs)
• Special tariffs/surtaxes (retaliatory tariffs, national security tariffs,

any equivalent to U.S. Section 301/232/IEEPA)

• Sales tax / VAT / GST at the border (rate, how calculated, recoverable?)
• Excise duties (alcohol, tobacco, fuel, luxury goods)
• Any unique mechanisms (e.g., EU CBAM, entry price systems)

Research Area 4: Procedures and Compliance

• Customs declaration system (electronic system name, process)
• De minimis thresholds (duty-free, tax-free, e-commerce)
• Duty relief programs (drawback, bonded warehouses, temporary importation,

processing zones)

• Trusted trader programs (AEO equivalent, mutual recognition)
• Binding classification rulings (process, validity, searchable database?)
• Penalties and enforcement (audit lookback period, penalty structure,

voluntary disclosure, appeal process)

Research Quality Requirements

• Use current data (specify the date in the guide)
• Include specific rates, thresholds, legal references, regulation numbers
• Include official website URLs and database links
• Verify data against official government sources where possible
• Note any upcoming changes (pending legislation, scheduled rate changes)

Document Structure

Read [references/document-structure.md](references/document-structure.md) for the standard chapter framework.

Every guide follows this core structure, adapted to the specific system:

Required Sections

1. Executive Summary -- Structural comparison table vs. U.S. (or another

reference system if specified). Highlight the 3-5 most consequential differences. This section tells the reader what makes this system unique.

1. System Overview -- Legislative foundation, key agencies with roles and

website URLs, how the system is organized.

1. Classification -- How the tariff number works, digit breakdown diagram,

national extensions, how to access the official schedule.

1. Tariff Rates and Treatments -- MFN rates, preferential rates, all FTA

treatment codes, the "best rate" rule if applicable.

1. Customs Valuation -- FOB vs. CIF (critical distinction), transaction

value method, additions/deductions, currency conversion.

1. Rules of Origin -- Non-preferential and preferential, key FTA rules of

origin, proof of origin mechanisms.

1. Total Landed Cost Calculation -- The complete formula from customs value

to total charges. Must include 3 worked examples with step-by-step calculations showing realistic products and amounts.

1. Additional Duties -- AD/CVD system, safeguards, surtaxes, retaliatory

tariffs, any unique mechanisms. Include current major measures with rates.

1. Sales Tax / VAT / GST -- Tax at the border (if applicable), rates,

recovery mechanism, interaction with duty calculation.

1. De Minimis -- Thresholds for duty-free, tax-free, and e-commerce.

Compare with U.S. $800 threshold.

1. Duty Relief and Special Programs -- Drawback, bonded warehousing,

temporary importation, processing zones, trusted trader programs.

1. Compliance and Enforcement -- Audit lookback period, penalties,

voluntary disclosure, appeal process.

1. Key Resources -- All official URLs, legislation references, key

guidance documents organized in tables.

1. Quick Reference Cheat Sheet -- Condensed formula, key thresholds table,

current additional duties summary, comparison table with other systems.

1. Disclaimers -- Not legal advice, rates change frequently, verify

against official sources.

Required Elements

Every guide must include:

• Structural comparison table (this system vs. U.S. and/or other systems)
• Tariff number anatomy diagram (showing digit breakdown with labels)
• Complete landed cost formula (step-by-step, showing all layers)
• 3 worked examples with realistic products, tariff codes, and amounts:
• Example 1: A duty-free or low-duty product (to show base case)
• Example 2: A product with moderate duty (to show standard calculation)
• Example 3: A product with additional duties/surtaxes (to show worst case)
• Key thresholds table (de minimis, registration thresholds, etc.)
• FTA/preferential treatment code table (all codes with partners and years)
• Official resource URLs table
• Key legislation reference table

Cross-References

When the audience has read a companion guide (e.g., the U.S. guide), use callout boxes to highlight differences:

• "Key difference from U.S." callouts for structural differences
• "Comparison with U.S." callouts for procedural similarities/differences
• Do NOT re-explain foundational concepts (HS basics, GRI rules, WTO

Valuation Agreement) -- reference the companion guide

Writing Style

Tone

• Authoritative but accessible -- Write for professionals, not academics
• Framework-focused -- Teach how to look things up, not snapshot current

rates (rates change; the framework is durable)

• Practical -- Include worked examples, decision trees, and step-by-step

processes

• Comparative -- Constantly relate back to the reader's known system

Formatting

• Use markdown headers for hierarchy (## for chapters, ### for sections,

#### for subsections)

• Use tables for structured data (rates, codes, comparisons)
• Use blockquotes (>) for key differences and comparisons
• Use code blocks for formulas, tariff number diagrams, and URLs
• Use bold for key terms on first use
• Keep paragraphs focused -- one concept per paragraph
• Target 8,000-15,000 words depending on system complexity

HTML Generation

Read [references/html-template.md](references/html-template.md) for the complete CSS design system and HTML template.

After writing the Markdown version, create a self-contained HTML version with:

Design System

• System font stack (no external font dependencies)
• Color palette: Slate-900 text, blue-500 accents, slate-50 backgrounds
• Sticky sidebar TOC (280px, fixed left, scrollable)
• Content area (800px max-width, left margin for sidebar)
• 4 callout types: Info (blue), Warning (amber), Tip (green), Important (red)
• Dark code blocks (slate-800 background)
• Styled tables (dark header, alternating rows, hover highlight)
• Formula boxes (dark gradient background, monospace font)
• Worked example boxes (dark header, body, result footer with red amount)
• Tariff anatomy diagrams (monospace, bordered box)
• Badge/chips (for status indicators: Active, Suspended, Repealed)
• Print stylesheet (hide sidebar, B&W-friendly, page breaks before h2)
• Responsive (hide sidebar below 1024px)

HTML Requirements

• Fully self-contained -- all CSS embedded in ``, no external

dependencies of any kind

• All internal anchor links must resolve -- every href="#id" must have a

corresponding id="..." element

• Print-ready -- must look professional when printed to PDF
• No JavaScript -- pure HTML + CSS

Verification

After generating both files, verify:

1. File sizes -- MD should be 30-80KB, HTML should be 40-100KB
2. Anchor links -- Extract all href="#..." and id="..." from HTML;

confirm every href has a matching id

1. External dependencies -- Confirm zero `, `, or

external url() references in HTML

1. Content completeness -- Confirm all required sections are present
2. Worked examples -- Confirm 3 examples with correct arithmetic

Output

Deliver two files in a dedicated directory:

{country}-tariff/
├── {country}-tariff-guide.md
└── {country}-tariff-guide.html

Both files should contain identical content -- the HTML is a styled rendering of the Markdown.

Guidelines

• Research thoroughly before writing. Launch parallel research agents to gather

comprehensive data on all topic areas simultaneously.

• Be specific. Include actual tariff codes, regulation numbers, SOR/CFR

references, and official URLs.

• Verify arithmetic in worked examples. Show each step so the reader can follow

and verify independently.

• Use consistent terminology. Define terms on first use and use them

consistently throughout.

• Date the document. Include the version date prominently and note that

information reflects conditions as of that date.

• When uncertain about a current rate or status, state what was known and

direct the reader to the official source for verification.

• Do not speculate about future policy. State current facts and pending

legislation separately.

• Keep the HTML visually consistent with companion guides if they exist. Reuse

the same CSS design system for a cohesive collection.

Source & license

This open-source skill is cataloged on AgentStack and links to its original source — we do not rehost the code.

• Author: theepan
• Source: theepan/ai-agent-skills
• License: MIT

Install and usage instructions live in the source repository linked above.