Tariff updates aren’t just for trade lawyers—this one affects your stack.
On May 2, 2025, the U.S. will terminate de minimis duty exemptions for many low-value imports, especially from China and Hong Kong. If you’re working in e-commerce, logistics tech, or cross-border APIs, this change matters.
What's Changing?
The de minimis rule (goods under $800 enter duty-free) is ending for select countries. That means:
- Postal packages: 30% duty or $25/item (rising to $50 in June)
- Courier/express: Full duties apply
Carrier systems must now:
- Report shipment data to CBP
- Hold international carrier bonds
- Possibly file formal entry declarations
For Devs & Tech Teams:
This isn’t just backend noise. You’ll likely need to:
- Update duty/tax APIs to reflect new rates and country restrictions
- Support declarations and customs data fields in checkout flows
- Build in logic for threshold-based surcharges
- Coordinate with carriers’ data reporting formats
- Prepare for increased error handling in customs clearance APIs
If your platform depends on global shipping (think Temu, Shein, or even Shopify stores with dropshipping), expect new compliance and pricing logic to code in.
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