Congress moves to tax your cheap imports—and your mail
H.R. 1840 — Closing the De Minimis Loophole Act · Filed by Linda Sánchez (D-CA) · 2 cosponsors · Introduced Mar 4, 2025 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill eliminates the 'de minimis' exemption in U.S. tariff law, which currently allows small shipments (typically under $800) to enter the country duty-free. The bill requires tariffs and duties to be collected on ALL imports, including small packages from e-commerce and international mail, effective immediately for Chinese goods and 120 days later for all others. The Treasury Department must establish new procedures and data requirements to enforce this across all entry modes.
Why we flagged it
The bill's core function is to eliminate a tariff exemption for small shipments and require duty collection on all imports. This is a trade/tariff enforcement measure, not a broader economic stimulus or protection bill, though it has protectionist intent.
What the text implies
- E-commerce and cross-border online shopping will become more expensive for U.S. consumers, as sellers will need to collect and remit tariffs on previously duty-free items.
- International mail and postal shipments will face new fees and processing requirements, potentially slowing delivery and increasing costs for small packages from abroad.
The full analysis lists 5 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
Domestic manufacturers competing with low-cost imports; U.S. small businesses in retail and manufacturing; Federal government (increased tariff revenue and duties collected)