In a move which will affect many UK businesses that are exporting low-value goods to the United States, the US has, with effect from 29 August 2025, removed the $800 de minimis threshold for commercial shipments.
For nearly a decade, the $800 threshold has allowed for shipments under that value to enter the United States duty-free. According to the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), in 2021 alone, goods worth around $5 billion were shipped from the UK to the US under the exemption.
Previously, most exports under $800 (approximately £590) entered the US duty-free under a simplified process. Now, exports, regardless of value, are subject to:
- tariffs and duties
- customs clearance and administrative charges
- additional data requirements.
The UK Government has warned: “Exports to the US that previously qualified for the de minimis are likely to see increased costs due to new tariffs and processing fees. Carriers now face increased customs declaration requirements, which may cause disruption or delays while systems are updated.”
Where previously some fields in the customs process were optional, traders will now be required to provide accurate product descriptions; the country of origin for each item and component parts — as s.232 tariffs also apply to component parts based on their country of origin — and Harmonised System (HS) codes.
According to US Customs, de minimis shipments account for 92% of all cargo entering the US and that figure “is growing in epic proportions.” It highlights that, in 2023, 85% of the shipments it seized for health and safety violations were small packages.
The Institute of Directors (IoD) has noted that potential moves by the UK and EU to examine their own de minimis thresholds would create further barriers to trade and act as a disincentive to firms looking to expand globally.
British Chambers of Commerce
The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) sits at the heart of a business network that spans the length and breadth of the UK, with links to markets across the world.
