CBP's Proposed Changes To De Minimis Shipments

This week, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) published two Notices of Proposed Rulemaking¹ that could significantly impact and curtail the entry of low-value shipments not exceeding $800 (commonly known as de minimis shipments) that are eligible for duty-free and simplified entry. Companies currently relying on de minimis shipments as a strategy to reach the U.S. market, whose shipments include Chinese steel and/or aluminum goods, may be prevented from continued use of that strategy. In addition, CBP proposes to collect new data on de minimis shipments under a new "enhanced entry process" and revisions to existing processes to better facilitate CBP's verification of eligibility for duty- and tax-free entry of de minimis shipments. For more information on this proposal and how it may affect your business, or for assistance drafting comments to CBP, please contact Lydia Pardini.