Continuing the Suspension of Duty-Free De Minimis Treatment for All Countries

This measure is an IEEPA action affecting U.S. customs treatment known as “de minimis.” De minimis treatment generally allows qualifying low-value shipments to enter with simplified processing and without ordinary customs duties, subject to the rules in effect. A suspension means that treatment is not available under the covered measure, so a shipment that once qualified may need a different entry process and may become subject to applicable duties, taxes, fees, and data requirements.

It typically affects importers, online sellers, marketplaces, carriers, and consumers sending or receiving covered merchandise into the United States, regardless of the shipment’s country of origin when the measure applies to all countries. The key professional terms to understand are “entry type,” “customs value,” “country of origin,” “Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) classification,” and “Importer of Record.” The exact result depends on the product, shipment facts, and current official customs guidance; a customs broker may be needed for classification or entry decisions.

What to check

• Confirm the measure’s current scope, effective status, and implementation instructions in official U.S. government sources.
• Check whether the shipment qualifies for any remaining low-value or simplified-entry treatment, rather than assuming its value alone is sufficient.
• Verify the HTS classification, country of origin, customs value, and any applicable duties, taxes, fees, or trade remedies.
• Make sure the carrier, marketplace, and Importer of Record provide consistent shipment data and use the correct entry type.
• Ask a licensed customs broker to review unusual products, related-party sales, returns, or shipments subject to other trade measures.