CBP and UPU Issue Updated De Minimis FAQs

Nearly one month after the end of the de minimis exemption, foreign postal operators continue to struggle to meet the new rules for mailing packages to the United States.

Posts are working to adjust to the new rules for shipping packages to the United States, with only a handful able to collect and remit duties as now required. On August 29, President Trump suspended the de minimis exemption that allowed goods under $800 to enter the country duty-free. Now all goods, including those via the postal channel, must pay tariffs on the value of the good, based on the country of origin. Executive Order 14324 set out the methodology for the postal duty and how it should be collected and remitted to CBP, which has proved challenging for foreign posts.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Universal Postal Union (UPU) are regularly updating a series of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to help postal operators meet the new requirements. CBP has posted the FAQs, its International Mail Guidance, and a list of approved parties on its website. The UPU is blasting out updated FAQs to member countries and other stakeholders. See the most recent version here. In addition, the UPU is launching its Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) global solution to help postal operators meet the U.S. requirements.