A transport loophole exempting small-value packages from tariffs ended at 12:01 a.m. Friday, which means that packages shipped into the U.S. below $800 are actually topic to further taxes.
Earlier this yr, President Donald Trump ended the loophole for small-value packages shipped from China and Hong Kong.
Senior White Home officers hailed the transfer in a name with reporters Thursday, saying that it was an important step in Trump’s efforts to rebalance commerce and likewise will assist crack down on the importation of unlawful items, together with fentanyl.
Airplanes with the FedEx brand are parked on the tarmac at Washington Dulles Worldwide Airport subsequent to a transport automobile of the courier and logistics firm.
Image Alliance/dpa/through Getty
Peter Navarro, senior counselor to the president for commerce and manufacturing, mentioned ending the “lethal de minimis loophole” will add as much as $10 billion in tariff revenues and assist “save 1000’s of American lives by limiting the circulation of narcotics and different harmful and prohibited objects.”
A senior administration official laid out how the change will work: Small-dollar packages introduced into the U.S. will likely be topic to the tariff rate of their country of origin (additionally known as the advert valorem charge).
Nonetheless, aiming to make sure a clean transition, the administration mentioned it’s making a six-month possibility the place shippers can as an alternative pay between $80 to $200 per merchandise as a flat payment, relying on the nation of origin’s tariff charge.
There stay issues concerning the logistics of ending the loophole, however the Trump administration mentioned that main transport firms are ready for the change.
White Home commerce advisor Peter Navarro speaks to photographers on the West Wing driveway on the White Home in Washington, D.C., U.S., August 28, 2025.
Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
Forward of the change, UPS, FedEx and DHL have all mentioned they’ll proceed to ship to the U.S. after the “de minimis” tariff exemption expires.
When requested whether or not shoppers may see any snags as this new coverage is carried out, a senior administration official eschewed these issues, saying that the U.S. gave transport firms across the globe ample discover.
The senior administration official mentioned small packages have turn into “actually lethal smuggling gadgets.”
Total, a majority of products seized over infractions involving violations of mental property or for well being and security causes, resembling shipped weapons components, contain small-value packages, in line with a senior administration official.
Navarro mentioned overseas postal companies have to get “their act collectively” with regards to policing packages coming into the U.S., saying they’re “vastly underperforming” specific carriers like FedEx, UPS and DHL.
When requested whether or not there was sufficient staffing at U.S. Customs and Border Patrol to deal with the change, one other senior administration official mentioned that officers “stand prepared.”
