Overview
- President Donald Trump’s executive order ending the duty‑free de minimis threshold took effect Aug. 29, putting tariffs on low‑value imports that previously cleared customs without charges.
- Consumers report delivery drivers requiring payment before releasing packages, with invoices itemizing government tariffs plus separate brokerage or processing fees from carriers.
- The Universal Postal Union says U.S.-bound postal flows fell about 71% after the rule change and more than 30 countries halted service, shifting volume to UPS, FedEx and DHL at higher cost.
- Retailers and wholesalers are raising prices or trimming imported assortments, with toy import volumes down about 15% by weight through August and some specialty goods marked up roughly 15–20%.
- Consumer advisers recommend checking seller location, looking for delivery duty paid terms, considering domestic alternatives, refusing a shipment to avoid unexpected fees, and watching for carrier-impersonation scams.