Changes to US Import Rules Regarding Goods Shipped from the UK Under the De Minimis

27 Aug 2025

From 29 August 2025, the United States will remove the $800 De minimis threshold for commercial shipments. This change affects the vast majority of UK businesses exporting goods under the threshold to the United States, including items that were previously exempt from tariffs and duties.

AS A RESULT

• Exports to the US that previously qualified for the de minimis will likely see increased costs due to new tariffs and processing fees.
• Carriers will face increased customs declaration requirements, which may cause disruption or delays while systems are updated.
• Previously: Most exports under $800 (approx. £590) entered the U.S. duty-free under a simplified process.
• Now: Exports, regardless of value, will be subject to:
• Tariffs and duties
• Customs clearance and administrative charges
• Additional data requirements

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR SENDING ITEMS TO THE US:

You should expect:

• There will now be tariffs to pay on the vast majority of exports to the US. These tariffs will vary depending on the product and its classification and may be composed of one or a combination of:
• Most Favoured Nation tariffs: based on the Harmonized Tariff Schedule.
• International Emergency Economic Powers Act (i.e. reciprocal) tariffs based on country of origin, e.g. 10% for UK origin goods.
• Other additional tariffs, such as those under Section 232.
  Tariffs can “stack,” meaning multiple layers may apply, resulting in higher costs. Please refer to the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal (EPD) for any preferential rates that may apply.
• A full customs process will now apply to exports to the US. This means the information you provide must be complete and accurate, where previously some fields were optional. This includes:
• Accurate product descriptions
• Country of origin for each item and component parts, as Section 232 tariffs will also apply to component parts based on their country of origin
• Harmonized System (HS) codes. Please consult the UK guidance for UK export purposes and US guidance for US import clearance purposes.
• The information you provide will be used by your carrier to calculate additional costs, including tariffs, duties and other customs clearance and administrative charges. Depending on your carrier’s policy, these costs may be Delivered Duty Paid (DDP - seller covers all costs) or Delivery Duty Unpaid (DDU – where the buyer is responsible for tariffs and custom fees).

FURTHER INFORMATION

Department for Business and Trade Resources

• DBT Export Academy “Gateway USA” webinar series
• DBT Check how to export goods tool for determining tariffs for your good.
• DBT guidance on how to identify your HS code for customs clearance and tariff collection purposes.
• Contact the Export Support Service for more information

US Government Resources

• US International Trade Administration guidance on determining origin under non-FTA terms.
• Executive Order on Suspending Duty-Free De Minimis Treatment for All Countries
• US Customs and Border Protection agency guidance for carriers on duty collection

The US’s removal of the $800 de minimis threshold for goods entering the United States has come at short notice. Postal and shipment carriers must adapt complex systems to comply.

We understand Royal Mail has temporarily suspended shipments to the US, as have a large number of other European postal operators. This is because they need more time to adapt their systems to implement the new arrangements. 

Customers can still send items to the US through other carriers, directly and via certain post offices.

Please note: postal services may be delayed as providers change processes with limited notice.