USA: New Tariffs and End of the “De Minimis” Rule (2025)

Starting May 2nd, 2025, the de minimis rule will no longer apply to shipments originating from China and Hong Kong.

For reference: The de minimis exemption under 19 U.S.C. §1321(a)(2)(C) (also known as Section 321) allows one shipment per person, per day, valued at $800 or less, to enter the U.S. duty- and tax-free.

What changes?
All parcels entering the U.S. after this date from China and Hong Kong will be subject to import taxes.

At the same time, tariffs on goods from China and Hong Kong have increased by 34%, bringing the total to 54%!

How is the import tax calculated?

In the U.S., import tax is calculated based on the FOB price (Free On Board – the value of the goods when they leave the origin country). This means the 54% tariff does not include shipping costs (air or sea freight).
In contrast, Europe calculates taxes based on the CIF price (Cost, Insurance, and Freight – the value of the goods upon arrival).

What does this mean for you?

The increase will have a noticeable impact on end customers. We currently don’t know how long these new rules will remain in place (though it appears they may be long-term).

What’s next?

For U.S. customers, we will be applying a temporary shipping surcharge while supply chains adapt and logistics are restructured — or until tariff policies change.

For small products, the implementation is still unclear. All small mail parcels should be taxed, but if the calculated tax is less than $2, the package may still pass through customs without charges.

Note: EMS will follow the same rules as FedEx and UPS — taxes will apply at the time of customs clearance, with no minimum threshold.

For registered mail services like USPS, a minimum import tax of $25 per item will apply.
(We usually ship with FedEx or EMS, so this doesn’t affect most of our shipments.)

Final thoughts

We are unsure how long these changes will remain, but according to former President Trump, “we’ll have to live with it.” While supply chains will eventually adjust, prices for U.S. customers are expected to increase across the board.

If you have any questions regarding import taxes, feel free to contact us.