Beginning August 29, 2025, all shipments of goods valued at or below $800 entering the United States will be subject to tariffs, regardless of origin, transportation, or method of entry, according to the executive order Suspending Duty-Free De Minimis Treatment for all Countries, signed by the White House on July 30 .
This decree suspends the tax exemption known as “de minimis ,” a provision that has facilitated e-commerce and low-value cross-border purchases for years.
The U.S. government justified the measure in the context of several declared national emergencies, including the persistent trade deficit, the flow of synthetic opioids from China, and specific provisions with Canada, Mexico, China, and Hong Kong , among others. The measure seeks to close legal loopholes exploited for smuggling and tax evasion, in addition to ensuring that current tariffs are fully effective.
The regulations provide differentiated treatment for shipments circulating through the international postal network, which will be subject to a new mixed tariff scheme that will be temporary for six months; however, starting in 2026, all taxes will be calculated on the value of the shipment.
The change is also part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act , enacted on July 4, 2025, which provides for the definitive elimination of “ de minimis” worldwide starting July 1, 2027. The US executive order brings forward that scenario due to what the government describes as “immediate emergencies.”
Impact on the logistics industry: the DHL case
Following the announcement, several international postal operators announced temporary restrictions on shipments to the United States, due to a lack of clarity on how the new tariffs and customs data transmission processes will be applied.
In contrast, DHL Express reported that its international express services to the United States and Puerto Rico continue to operate normally , applying the corresponding tariffs under current legislation.
“Our experience and deep knowledge of customs are key differentiators, complemented by advanced information technology solutions that we continually develop to empower our customers and enable them to maintain efficient supply chains, even in the most challenging environments,” DHL Express Mexico noted in a fact sheet.
The company clarified that the restrictions apply only to postal operations, such as those of Deutsche Post and DHL Paket in Germany , which suspended package shipments to the United States on August 22 due to new procedures required by U.S. customs.
In the case of shipments between individuals labeled as “gifts” of up to $100, these will continue to be possible, although under stricter controls to prevent abuse in commercial shipments, while the sending of documents by letter remains unchanged.
Furthermore, the end of the ” de minimis” exemption creates an environment of uncertainty in the logistics and e-commerce industries , especially for small and medium-sized businesses that relied on this regime to reduce entry costs to the U.S. market.
While the U.S. government is presenting this as a security and fiscal control measure, the logistics sector, especially the parcel delivery sector, is in jeopardy as it awaits clear guidelines on how to apply the new tariffs , how they are collected, and, above all, who pays them.
This, in turn, is due to the limited time allowed to adapt IT and logistics systems , which has left operators unable to react in time.
Furthermore, the elimination of the ” de minimis” requirement represents a profound change for online shoppers , as the additional cost could be passed on to the end buyer or partially absorbed by the platforms, but in either case it will increase operational complexity and delivery times.
Should this measure be replicated by other countries? It’s worth remembering that various industries in Mexico have been severely affected by the massive arrival of Asian platforms operating in the country, such as the textile, footwear, and toy industries, as well as the transportation sector, which are all affected by these platforms’ malpractice.
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