US ends de minimis tariff exemption on international parcels

The United States formally ended its long‑standing de minimis tariff exemption at 12:01 a.m. Eastern on Friday, meaning nearly all international parcels worth $800 or less will now be subject to customs duties and formal entry procedures, administration officials said. The change, ordered by President Donald Trump in a July executive order, applies to shipments from all countries and takes effect immediately, with a six‑month transition for postal operators.

The White House and senior administration officials framed the move as a permanent closure of what they described as a loophole used to evade tariffs and to smuggle illicit goods. White House trade adviser Peter Navarro told reporters the step will "save thousands of American lives" by restricting fentanyl and other contraband and could add as much as $10 billion a year in tariff revenue to the Treasury, according to officials. A senior administration official said any effort to restore exemptions for trusted trading partners was "dead on arrival."

Under guidance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, carriers that use the international postal system may, during the six‑month transition, collect a flat duty of $80, $160 or...