Duty-free treatment for low-value shipments into the United States ended for goods from all countries at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time on 29 August 2025. The change was made by Executive Order 14324, signed on 30 July 2025, which suspends the US de minimis exemption regardless of a shipment's value, country of origin, mode of transport or method of entry.
Corporate INTL Newsroom · Corporate, Commercial & M&A
US De Minimis Exemption Ends for Low-Value Imports From All Countries
By The Corporate INTL Newsroom · 29 August 2025
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said it began enforcing the change on 29 August. The global suspension follows an earlier suspension for goods from China and Hong Kong, announced on 2 April and effective from 2 May 2025.
What the rules require
Imports valued at or below $800 that previously qualified under the US de minimis exemption now lose duty-free treatment, according to CBP's factsheet. The order allows CBP to require entry bonds for informal entries of $2,500 or less, and carriers of international postal shipments must hold international carrier bonds to secure duties.
For postal shipments, carriers may choose between an ad valorem duty equal to the effective IEEPA tariff rate for the country of origin, or a specific duty per package of $80, $160 or $200 depending on that rate. The specific duty option is available for six months, after which all postal shipments must use the ad valorem method.
Why the change was made
The order cites the need to prevent evasion of tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, and to address illicit drug trafficking and deceptive shipping practices such as false invoices and re-shipping. CBP reports that de minimis shipments rose from 134 million in 2015 to 1.36 billion in 2024, more than four million a day.
Who is affected
Cross-border e-commerce sellers, online marketplaces, express carriers, foreign postal operators and their customers now face duties and more formal entry processes. Businesses whose direct-to-consumer models relied on the exemption should review pricing, customs brokerage arrangements and contract terms that allocate responsibility for duties, such as delivery terms agreed with US buyers.
Sources
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