It's really not "Asian". Shipping rates for the japans and the Republic of Korea are quite high. Rates are high from the Republic of China (what commie shills want you to call "Taiwan", which is the name of an island). The negotiated rates from The People's Republic of China are the only ones, negotiated during the Obimbo administration, that are low. Cheaper to send a package from there than I can across the street via USPS.