"The loophole, known as the de minimis exemption, allowed for $64.6 billion worth of goods to enter the United States duty free in 2024, according to data from the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Agency. The only exception still allowed is for letters or actual gifts sent directly from one person to another that are valued at under $100. Uncertainty around liability for the new tariffs has led many foreign post offices to suspend some, if not all, mail to the United States."
"Such is the case for a majority of European nations, with countries such as Germany, Sweden, and Italy suspending most services to the U.S. over the weekend. France followed suit on Monday, with the UK cutting off package delivery on Tuesday. These national postal services aimed to deliver any existing packages before the exemption ended on Friday. In some cases, those that arrive after the rule change could be returned to sender as a way to avoid fees."
"Countries from Japan and South Korea to Canada and Mexico have also added restrictions or new stipulations. Canada Post, for instance, is only accepting U.S.-bound shipments with proof that the customer has either prepaid the duty or set up automatic billing. How are retail businesses responding to the changes? Companies have been taking steps to adjust shipments to the United States. For example, on August 25, Etsy suspended postage purchases for packages to the U.S. through Australia Post, Canada Post, Evri, and Royal Mail."
The de minimis exemption that allowed low-value imports to enter the United States duty free has ended for goods under $800 as of August 29. The exemption had allowed $64.6 billion in duty-free goods in 2024, with only letters or gifts under $100 still exempt. Uncertainty over who will bear new tariff costs prompted many foreign postal services to suspend or restrict shipments to the U.S., with several European nations pausing service and others adding conditions. Some carriers require prepaid duties or automatic billing, and retailers and marketplaces have begun pausing or altering U.S.-bound postage options.
Read at Fast Company
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