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2h ago

U.S. Ends De Minimis Tariff Exemption, Bringing Duties to All Low‑Value Parcels

Customs is moving low‑value imports into the regular tariff system with a brief flat‑fee grace period before full value‑based charges take effect.

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FILE - Parcels slide down a ramp after being scanned at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection overseas mail inspection facility at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport Feb. 23, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)

Overview

  • CBP began charging normal duty rates on all global parcel imports at 12:01 a.m. ET, with tariffs generally ranging from 10% to 50% and a temporary $80–$200 option for foreign postal operators.
  • Postal services in numerous countries, including Japan, Germany, France, the U.K., Australia and New Zealand, have paused or limited U.S.-bound packages, while UPS and FedEx say they can process duties and expect some transition friction.
  • The White House frames the shift as a move to curb illicit shipments and raise revenue, with officials citing up to $10 billion annually and noting the earlier May suspension for China and Hong Kong.
  • Etsy and eBay warned sellers about postal suspensions and urged alternative carriers, and shoppers report cancellations and higher costs that analysts say will hit small businesses and consumers hardest.
  • The flat‑fee option for postal operators lasts six months before a required switch to ad valorem collection by Feb. 28, 2026, as CBP says its systems are ready even as carriers seek clarity on data and duty‑collection roles.