What's Changing?
At 12:01 a.m. this Friday, U.S. Customs and Border Protection rolled out a new rule: the $800 de minimis exemption for small parcels is officially over 🚫📦. From now on, every international package must clear customs with standard duties applied.
How It Works
Postal shippers now have a six-month runway to adjust. They can:
- Pay a flat duty between $80 and $200 per package, depending on the origin country 💰
- Or let CBP calculate duties based on standard tariff rates
And if you ship goods outside the international postal network (like express couriers), any item under $800 is also back on the duty books.
Why It Matters
If you love shopping online from abroad, expect extra fees at checkout or at your doorstep. Businesses might bump up prices or switch shipping methods to dodge hefty duties. It’s a wave felt from your favorite e-commerce sites to cross-border businesses.
Global Ripples
The change expands earlier moves by the Trump administration to end the exemption for shipments from the Chinese mainland. In fact, a top official dubbed this a 'permanent change' — any comeback for trusted trading partners is 'dead on arrival.'
Even the Universal Postal Union reports 25 member countries have paused mail to the U.S., citing the uncertainty around parcels under $800. 🌐✈️
Quick Take
- End of the $800 duty-free perk
- Flat fees or standard tariffs now apply
- Global senders are rethinking their mail game
Stay tuned for updates on how this shakeup affects your next international delivery! 📬✨
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
