Biden administration posts last-minute rule to curb low-value shipments

18/1/2025 6:25

The Biden administration on Friday issued last-minute proposed rules to curb duty-free imports under the $800 "de minimis" threshold, denying the low-value shipments exemption for goods that are subject to other punitive U.S. tariffs.



The move marks a setback for e-commerce firms, including China-based Shein and PDD Holdings' Temu, which have exploited the de minimis threshold to ship millions of small packages a day to U.S. customers.



The Biden administration first announced in September that it was taking steps to curb the trade "loophole" that it blames for shipments of fentanyl precursor chemicals to evade customs inspection and tariffs.