U.S. Ends Duty-Free Threshold for Chinese Imports Amid Global Shift on De Minimis Rules

Type: Legislation

Effective Date: May 2, 2025

On 2 May 2025, the US ended the $800 de minimis duty exemption for all import consignments from China, including Hong Kong. All such shipments are now subject to import duties of up to 145%, affecting over four million daily packages. The exemption still applies to other countries, and US consumers are allowed one duty-free consignment per day. De minimis thresholds have historically eased customs workloads by waiving low-value duties. However, countries including the US and EU are now phasing them out to protect domestic retailers and recover lost tax revenue.

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