CBP Ends Duty-Free Entry for Sub-$800 Shipments: What US Importers Must Know (Effective June 24, 2026)
On June 24, 2026, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) published two interim final rules that indefinitely suspend the de minimis administrative exemption for imports valued at $800 or less arriving through all modes other than the international postal network. Translation: every package you import from China through DHL, FedEx, UPS, air freight, or ocean freight now requires formal or informal entry—regardless of value.
1. The Two Rules at a Glance
| Rule | Published | Scope | Key Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-postal modes | June 24, 2026 | DHL, FedEx, UPS, air, ocean, truck | Indefinite suspension of Section 321 de minimis exemption. All entries—regardless of value—must use formal or informal entry procedures. |
| Postal mode | June 24, 2026 | USPS / international postal network | Introduces Postal Informal Entry process. Simplified filing, but no longer automatic duty-free clearance. |
| Legal authority | 19 USC 1321 (Section 321) · 19 CFR Parts 10, 143, 145 | ||
| Source | Federal Register: 2026-12670 | ||
2. Who Is Affected—and Who Isn’t
| Business model | Scenario | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| DTC ecommerce (Shopify/WooCommerce) | Dropshipping $30-$200 items via DHL direct to US consumers | 🔴 Severe—every parcel now requires entry |
| Amazon FBA inbound | Full-container or LCL shipments to Amazon warehouses | 🟡 Already uses formal entry; minimal change |
| Sample shipments | Factory sending $50 samples to US buyers | 🔴 Severe—no longer exempt |
| Marketplace platforms | Temu/Shein/TikTok Shop low-value orders | 🔴 Severe—structural cost increase |
| Traditional B2B wholesale | Full-container imports >$800 | 🟢 No impact—never used de minimis |
3. Old vs. New: How Your Shipments Clear Now
| Before June 24 | After June 24 | |
|---|---|---|
| Express parcel ≤$800 | Duty-free, no entry required | Formal or informal entry required |
| Express parcel >$800 | Formal entry | Formal entry (unchanged) |
| Postal parcel ≤$800 | Duty-free | Postal Informal Entry (simplified filing) |
| Postal parcel >$800 | Formal entry | Formal entry (unchanged) |
| Ocean/air freight (any value) | Formal entry | Formal entry (unchanged) |
4. Practical Impact for Importers
4.1 Your Landed Cost Per Shipment Increases
Every commercial-carrier parcel now requires a customs entry. This adds: brokerage fees ($25-$75 per entry), potential duties and taxes, and longer clearance times. A shipment of 100 small parcels that previously cleared duty-free now incurs 100 separate entry fees.
4.2 Clearance Times Will Lengthen
CBP must process a surge of new low-value entries. Expect clearance times to increase from 1-2 days to 3-5 days for small parcels.
4.3 Five Immediate Steps to Take
5. Frequently Asked Questions
A: If you ship full containers or LCL to Amazon, you already use formal entry—this rule changes nothing for you. If you send small parcels via DHL/UPS to Amazon, those now require entry.
A: Not entirely duty-free. The new Postal Informal Entry process requires declaration, and CBP retains inspection and duty assessment authority. The likelihood of duty-free clearance is significantly reduced.
A: The rule applies to goods arriving on or after June 24, 2026. Goods that entered US territory or filed entry before that date are processed under the old rules.
A: Under DDP terms, the seller is responsible for all import costs. However, most Chinese suppliers will increase their DDP prices to cover the new brokerage fees—or attempt to renegotiate mid-contract. Review your purchase agreements and add a customs-cost adjustment clause.
Sourcing from China? We handle the new customs reality.
Yinrui International Logistics provides DDP freight with in-house customs brokerage. We clear thousands of low-value entries monthly—at scale, our per-entry cost is a fraction of going it alone.
6. Further Reading
Based on Federal Register official publication (2026-12670) and CBP public information. For informational purposes only. Consult a licensed customs broker for advice specific to your imports.
Last updated: July 1, 2026 | Yinrui International Logistics
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