Particle.news
Download on the App Store
19 ARTICLES
·
2d ago

U.S. Ends Duty‑Free $800 De Minimis Rule, Prompting Postal Suspensions and Higher Costs

CBP is now collecting duties on all low‑value parcels under an executive order aimed at curbing illicit shipments, with a temporary $80–$200 flat fee for foreign posts.

The Universal Postal Union said that 25 of its member countries have notified that they have suspended outbound postal services to the US
The Trump administration ended the de minimis tariff loophole on Friday, Aug. 29.
Image
Image

Overview

  • Enforcement began Aug. 29, with U.S. Customs applying normal duty rates to all package imports valued under $800 regardless of origin or carrier.
  • Dozens of national postal operators have paused or limited U.S. shipments as implementation details remain unclear, with reports citing 25 to more than 30 countries including Australia, France, Germany, India, Japan and Sweden.
  • India Post expanded its halt to cover all categories of mail to the U.S., including letters, documents and gifts up to $100, citing carriers’ refusal to transport items and unresolved duty‑collection mechanisms.
  • For six months, foreign postal agencies can use a flat per‑parcel duty of $80 to $200, yet DHL and PostEurop say questions persist over who collects duties, what data is required and how it is transmitted to CBP.
  • Officials cite a surge to roughly 1.36–1.4 billion de minimis shipments in 2024 and project up to about $10 billion a year in added tariff revenue, as consumers and small sellers brace for higher prices and slower deliveries.