US, tariffs on small packages in force from today
In the United States, the tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on small packages that, until now, enjoyed an exemption regime have officially come into force
3' min read
3' min read
With the stroke of midnight on the Atlantic coast, the tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on small parcels that, until now, enjoyed an exemption regime, officially came into force in the United States. Even postal packages with a value of less than USD 800 will therefore be subject to taxation when they enter US territory. The only parcels to be exempted are those containing 'gifts' worth less than $100.
On 30 July, President Donald Trump announced the repeal of the duty-free regime for parcels from all countries, starting one month later. Tariffs make shipments to the US by foreign retailers more expensive unless sellers absorb the costs.
The exemption ended in May for small shipments from mainland China and Hong Kong, and has now ended for goods from the rest of the world. According to US Customs and Border Protection, the number of small parcels covered by US duty-free exploded last year, reaching nearly 1.4 billion, a 600% increase over the previous decade. An estimated three-quarters or more came from China, with a significant share from SheIn Group Ltd and Temu.
The Trump administration's decision against the de minimis was made because, in its view, the exemption allowed traffickers to easily send packages containing fentanyl into the country. US retailers and industry groups also opposed the exemption, believing it gave an unfair advantage to foreign e-commerce companies such as Shein and Temu, as well as some third-party sellers on Amazon. Amazon, Shein and Temu declined to comment.
It is more difficult for small businesses to absorb tariffs and some are planning to increase prices to offset costs. Platforms such as eBay and Etsy, where individuals and small businesses sell everything from vintage football shirts to electronics, are advising sellers to notify their customers of tariff-related price increases.
