De Minimis Treatment for Imports from China Ends May 2
Source
American Shipper
Post Date
04/15/2025
President Trump has issued an utive order ing duty-free de minimis treatment for low-value imports from China (including Hong Kong; Macau could be added later). This change will be effective for goods entered or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption on or after 12:01 a.m. EDT on May 2. Under this EO, Chinese-origin goods sent through means other than the international postal network that are valued at or under $800 and would otherwise qualify for the de minimis exemption will be subject to all applicable duties (e.g., Section 301 tariffs, reciprocal tariffs, etc.), which must be paid in accordance with applicable entry and payment procedures. All entries will have to be made by an entity qualified to make formal or informal entry in the Automated Commercial Environment. Chinese-origin goods sent through the international postal network that are valued at or under $800 and would otherwise qualify for the de minimis exemption will be subject to a duty rate of either 30 percent of their value or $25 per item (increasing to $50 per item on June 1). This will be in lieu of any other duties, including those imposed by prior EOs. The EO specifies that (1) carriers transporting these postal items must report shipment details to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, maintain an international carrier bond to ensure duty payment, and remit duties to CBP on a set schedule, and (2) CBP may require formal entry for any postal package (which would subject it to all applicable duties instead of those specified above for postal items). The White House explained the policy change by asserting that CBP processes an average of more than four million de minimis imports each day and that ?any?China-based companies use such shipments to ?ide illicit substances in the flow of legitimate commerce, including through false invoices, fraudulent postage, and deceptive packaging.?Further, China ?nforces strict import restrictions and tightly limits de minimis exemptions?of its own.
