On July 30, 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order suspending duty-free de minimis treatment for low-value shipments. The President determined that suspending the duty-free status is necessary to address threats such as the flow of illicit drugs and large trade deficits and to ensure that tariffs are effective. The suspension applies to the import of goods from all countries, and is meant to prevent evasion of tariffs and “deceptive shipping practices.”
Effective August 29, 2025, imported goods sent through means other than the international postal network that are valued at or under $800 and that would otherwise qualify for the de minimis exemption will be subject to all applicable duties. Entries should be filed using an appropriate entry type in the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE).
For shipments sent through the international postal network that would otherwise qualify for the de minimis exemption, packages will instead be assessed duties according to one of the following methodologies:
- Ad valorem duty: A duty equal to the effective tariff rate imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) that is applicable to the country of origin of the product. This duty will be assessed on the value of each package.
- Specific duty: A duty ranging from $80 per item to $200 per item, depending on the effective IEEPA tariff rate applicable to the country of origin of the product. The specific duty methodology will only be available for six (6) months, after which all applicable shipments must comply with the ad valorem duty methodology.
- Countries with an effective IEEPA tariff rate of less than 16%: $80 per item;
- Countries with an effective IEEPA tariff rate between 16% and 25% (inclusive): $160 per item; and
- Countries with an effective IEEPA rate above 25%: $200 per item.
- Changing Methodology: Each transportation carrier must apply the same methodology across all covered shipments during any given period but may change its methodology no more than once per calendar month, or on another schedule determined to be appropriate by CBP, upon providing at least 24 hours’ notice to CBP.
American travelers can still bring back up to $200 in personal items and individuals can continue to receive gifts valued at $100 or less duty-free.
To ensure remittance of duties in accordance with this order, and to assure compliance with other legal requirements, CBP is authorized to require a basic importation and entry bond for informal entries valued at or less than $2,500.
New regulations and processes established by CBP are expected to be in place to implement this Executive Order.
See other details in the fact sheet for the Executive Order.