[throwaway60722]

That is definitely how the world works. Import/export laws largely do not apply when it's the customer self-importing it for their own personal use. And that can include the seller sending it to them using FedEx or whatever, still self-import.

Import/export laws mostly affect stuff that's going to be resold again, and involve local subsidiaries or contracted distributors.

The two cases I listed do not happen at the same time. Try some other, more charitable interpretation.

If I went out and bought something out of my country, the seller never tried to sell in my country and it makes no sense they would have to follow my local law.

If the seller went out and started selling (doing marketing etc) in my country, that's a different story.

[manuelmoreale]

Appreciate you taking the time to engage in the discussion but I think I’m going to stop here.

[exodust]

An example might help.

If I'm in Australia and I buy a new alarm clock from an online store in Japan, the alarm clock does not need to meet Australian standards. It's the customer's risk to take.