Court Upholds Trump's End of De Minimis Tariff Exemption

The U.S. Court of International Trade ruled in favor of President Donald Trump on Thursday, upholding his administration's decision to eliminate a longstanding tariff exemption for low-value imports. The unanimous decision, issued by a three-judge panel in New York, found that the president had the legal authority to rescind the de minimis exemption, which had allowed commercial shipments valued at $800 or less to enter the United States duty-free.

The ruling marks a significant legal victory for the administration's trade policy, which has faced multiple court challenges. Trump celebrated the decision on Truth Social, calling it a "BIG WIN" and labeling the exemption "one of the most DESPICABLE loopholes in American Trade Policy." He stated that the exemption had been exploited by "TARIFF Cheats" and served as a "Pipeline exploited by Fentanyl Traffickers, Counterfeiters, and other Criminals."

The de minimis provision, enacted in 1938 and updated by Congress, was designed to streamline customs procedures for small shipments. However, the administration argued it had become a major loophole. According to government data cited by the president, the exemption cost the U.S. an...