Jet Worldwide Blog Posts

Rethinking the De Minimis Debate

When people discuss the surge of de minimis shipments into the U.S., most point to the 2016 increase of the duty-free threshold to $800. But the real driver wasn’t the dollar limit—it was an operational fix gone wrong: the launch of Type 86.

For e-commerce platforms, sellers, importers, and logistics providers, understanding this story is crucial for navigating the present and planning for the future.

The Old Guard: A System of Control and Compliance

Postal Imports and De Minimis Suspension

While suspension of the de minimis affects all imports, it's particularly aimed at international postal networks. Postal imports were frequently used to "fly under the radar" of customs. The regulatory oversight of commercial imports has always been much greater than for postal imports. Now, packages sent via international post will face significant duties – either a flat fee of $80 to $200 per item, or new Trump era duty charges which can be over 50%. But this new burden falls not yet on the post office but also commercial carriers and porters.