For years, shipments worth $800 or less could enter the US without duty. That changed on August 29, 2025, when an executive order suspended duty-free de minimis treatment for all countries.
Under the order, goods of any value and from any country lost the exemption. Customs and Border Protection says goods valued at $800 or less that arrive outside the international postal network are subject to all applicable duties.
It is not going back soon
In June 2026, CBP published rules for an indefinite suspension of the exemption. Separately, the statutory basis for de minimis is repealed from July 1, 2027.
What this means for a brand
A brand outside the US that ships single orders to American customers now deals with duty and customs entry on every parcel. Moving stock in bulk and holding it in the US keeps that work to one shipment, and a US distributor can take that on. Duty rates depend on the product and its origin, so get advice for your own goods.
Sources: White House, Suspending Duty-Free De Minimis Treatment for All Countries; CBP fact sheet; Federal Register, June 2026. General information only, not legal advice.