So far, packages with low value have been duty -free in the USA – since today this has only been valid for gifts below $ 100. Consumer advocates see advantages in the new regulation, others think there are only losers.
The Americans are probably the most passionate shopper ever. “We just buy a lot of stuff,” says Courtney Griffin from the consumer federation of America “consumer organization in the broadcaster NPR – and therefore it now affects everyone that goods imports with a value of less than $ 800 are no longer duty -free.
In the future, the same import tax will apply to such packages in the USA as for other products from the respective country of origin. There is an exception for “real” gifts worth less than $ 100.
The so-called de-minimis rule had existed for about 90 years, its loss is a severe blow to internet commercial, especially for Asian companies such as Temu and Shein. To order very cheap products directly from foreign providers – for many Americans, this should no longer be so attractive in the future.
Customs: drugs in duty -free packages
Griffin was not a friend of the customs exceptions: “They produced considerable concerns about product safety, since low -quality imports were only subjected to minimal customs controls, and it was easier to get insecure products on the US market – or products that did not meet the standards.”
According to customs, 98 percent of the intercepted drugs were packed in duty -free packages last year – as well as 97 percent of the fake and 70 percent of the health -endangering products. Almost four million of these packages were delivered to the United States last year – every day, more than ten times as many as in 2015.
Commercial expert: Only losers
The trading expert Deborah Elms from the Hinrich Foundation Foundation believes that the end of the “de-minimis rule” only creates losers. For example, they limit the chances of finding markets in the United States, especially from small companies abroad, according to Elms at the CNBC broadcaster. “It limits the possibilities of small, specialized companies in America to find unusual products on the world market and then sell them to their customers in Germany,” continued Elms. “And it limits the access of American consumers to a large number of products from abroad.” The bottom line is just sad.
The “de-minimis rule” was once introduced because the customs clearance of imports with low value cost the government more than it was able to take through the discount. The end of this rule now affects the Americans who can only spend little money.
Postal service provider Stop shipping
Consumer Schiffin from the Consumer Federation advises consumers change their habits: “Best -time products,” says Griffin. Customs are saved and you don’t have to deal with delivery problems.
How the US authorities now want to raise customs on the low-cost packages, very practical, that is obviously not clear at all. Postal service providers from 25 countries have therefore exposed the shipping of such packages to America until further notice, according to the World Postal Club.
