Trade USA ends duty-free status for parcels from all over the world
Since Friday, the USA has abolished duty-free treatment for goods imports with a value of less than 800 dollars. President Donald Trump had initially lifted the exemption for China - and at the end of July also ordered the end of duty-free treatment for parcels from all over the world.
29.08.2025, 06:23
SDA
Postal service providers in numerous countries such as Switzerland, France, India and Australia therefore announced that they would no longer accept most parcels destined for the USA. The parcel service DHL also announced that it would massively restrict the shipment of goods to the USA.
One of the reasons Trump gave for the move was that dangerous drugs had been smuggled into the USA on a large scale in duty-free parcels under the de minimis rule. In recent years, duty-free parcel deliveries have risen sharply thanks to platforms such as Temu and Shein.
Fewer parcels after China stop
After the duty-free status for low-value parcels from China was abolished in May, the number of such shipments to the USA fell from four million a day to one million, according to government figures. In addition, customs duties amounting to 492 million dollars have been levied on the parcels since then.
According to the US government, however, Chinese shippers are seeking detours via other countries. This has made it necessary to extend the measure to parcels from all over the world. According to the rules in force since Friday, the goods must be subject to the applicable US customs duties for the country of origin - or alternatively a fee of 80 to 200 dollars for a transitional period of six months. There is an exception for "genuine" gifts worth less than 100 dollars.
Criticism of postal services
According to the US government, more than 90 percent of "de minimis" parcels are transported by express delivery companies such as FedEx or UPS. No problems with shipping are expected here. The White House has harsh words for regular postal services that have restricted shipping to the USA in view of the new regulation. They should rather make sure that more information about the contents of the parcels is collected and shared with US authorities, said a senior government official in Washington. If they stopped shipping to the US instead, express providers would simply take over their business.
