US Ends De Minimis Exemption

The United States, under the administration of Donald Trump, ended the 'de minimis exemption' for low-value imported parcels, effective August 29, 2025. This exemption, which had existed since 1938 and was expanded under Barack Obama, previously allowed goods valued at $800 or less to enter the United States without customs duties. The new rules shift the burden of duty collection to transportation carriers or United States — United States Customs and Border Protection-approved parties. As a result, the Universal Postal Union reported an 81% drop in postal traffic to the United States, with 88 postal operators suspending services due to operational disruptions and lack of preparedness. The Universal Postal Union is now rolling out technical solutions, including a landed-cost calculator API, to help its members comply with the new regulations. The Trump administration justified the change by stating the exemption was exploited by foreign businesses to evade tariffs and by criminals to import drugs, with Peter Navarro estimating up to $10 billion in annual tariff revenues and job creation.