CBP has released a draft Federal Register notice, set for official publication on April 28, 2025, regarding the elimination of de minimis eligibility for goods of China and Hong Kong. Effective May 2, 2025, at 12:01 a.m. EST, the option for de minimis treatment will no longer apply to covered products originating from these countries, including those shipped through the international postal network. This change is consistent with Executive Order 14256 and its subsequent amendments.
Shipments valued at or below $800 that would have previously qualified for de minimis must now be formally entered with CBP and are subject to applicable duties. International postal packages from China and Hong Kong will be subject to either a 120% ad valorem duty or a specific duty of $100 per item from May 2nd, 2025, and $200 per item beginning June 1st, 2025. Carriers must uniformly elect and apply one duty collection method and are responsible for remitting collected duties to CBP, backed by a valid international carrier bond.
Duties collected under Executive Order 14256 will replace any other tariff obligations, including those imposed in prior Executive Orders, the HTSUS, or Section 301. However, if CBP requires formal entry of an international postal item, the special duty rates under this executive order will not apply, and the shipment will be subject to standard duties, taxes, and entry procedures.
CBP has also modified relevant HTSUS provisions to formally reflect the elimination of the de minimis exemption for China and Hong Kong. No drawback will be available for articles subject to a duty impose under this Executive Order.
All CBP regulatory provisions that are not consistent with, or otherwise impede CBP's ability to carry out the directives in Executive Order 14256, as amended by Executive Orders 14259 and 14266, are temporarily suspended or changed, as applicable. This is based on the authority granted in Executive Order 14256, which allows CBP to take whatever actions are necessary to enforce the order. The suspended rules include, but are not limited to: 19 CFR 145.12(b), which deals with CBP’s handling of informal mail entries; 19 CFR 145.31, concerning mail imports valued at $800 or less; the parenthetical exception clause in 19 CFR 143.21(a), which relates to goods over $250 classified in Chapter 99, Subchapters III and IV of the HTSUS; and any provision of CBP regulations, except those involving mail, that permits filers to file entries with CBP, for articles valued at or under $800 and that would otherwise qualify for the de minimis exemption.
The full text of the notice, the original Executive Order, and its amendments can be found below:
CBP Federal Register Notice (2025-07325)
Executive Order 14256 (2025-06027)