The $800 De Minimis Threshold: What Changed in 2026
Founder, USTariffCalc.com · LinkedIn
The $800 de minimis exemption is still in force for most countries. China is the exception. Every package from China — regardless of value — now faces import duties. The distinction matters for anyone buying from Chinese e-commerce platforms or importing small commercial shipments.
The Basics
Under Section 321 of the Tariff Act, packages valued at $800 or less can enter the United States without paying import duties. This applies to personal imports, online shopping, and small business orders.
The Big Change: China Is Out
The $800 de minimis exemption no longer applies to goods from China. Every package from China — regardless of value — now faces import duties or flat fees. This was implemented to close a loophole that Chinese e-commerce platforms (Temu, Shein, AliExpress) used to ship billions of dollars worth of goods duty-free.
Who Still Qualifies
| Origin | De Minimis Status | Threshold |
|---|---|---|
| 🇨🇳 China | ❌ Eliminated | $0 — all packages taxed |
| 🇭🇰 Hong Kong (China origin) | ❌ Eliminated | $0 — all packages taxed |
| 🇻🇳 Vietnam | ✅ Still valid | $800 |
| 🇮🇳 India | ✅ Still valid | $800 |
| 🇯🇵 Japan | ✅ Still valid | $800 |
| 🇪🇺 EU Countries | ✅ Still valid | $800 |
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | ✅ Still valid | $800 |
| 🇲🇽 Mexico | ✅ Still valid | $800 |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | ✅ Still valid | $800 |
| 🌍 Most Others | ✅ Still valid | $800 |
How Duties Are Collected on Small Packages
For Chinese packages that no longer qualify for de minimis, duties are collected in one of two ways. The e-commerce platform collects estimated duties at checkout and remits them to CBP. Or the shipping carrier (FedEx, UPS, DHL, USPS) assesses duties at delivery and collects from the recipient.
Future Changes
The administration has signaled interest in tightening or eliminating de minimis for more countries. If Section 301 investigations result in tariffs on countries like Vietnam and India, their de minimis eligibility could change too.
Check If Your Package Qualifies
De Minimis Calculator →Frequently Asked Questions
Is the $800 de minimis exemption still in effect?
Yes for most countries, but NOT for China. Chinese goods of any value now face import duties.
What happens if my package is over $800?
Packages over $800 from any country require a formal customs entry and are subject to standard import duties based on the product type and country of origin.
China-Specific De Minimis Rules: Deep Dive
What Was the De Minimis Exemption?
Under Section 321 of the Tariff Act, packages valued at $800 or less could enter the United States duty-free. Originally designed for travelers, it became a massive advantage for Chinese e-commerce: in 2024 alone, over 1.3 billion de minimis packages entered the US — mostly from Temu, Shein, and AliExpress. This gave Chinese sellers a 15-40% price advantage over domestic retailers who paid full duties.
How the Closure Was Implemented
Under the IEEPA tariffs (April 2025 – February 2026), small packages from China became subject to tariff rates or a flat per-item fee. After the Supreme Court struck down IEEPA tariffs, the administration maintained the de minimis closure under the new Section 122 framework.
In brief
- →$800 de minimis exemption still applies for Vietnam, India, Japan, EU, UK, Mexico, Canada
- →China and Hong Kong (Chinese-origin): de minimis eliminated — all packages face duties
- →Packages over $800 from any country require a formal customs entry
- →Temu and AliExpress: duties collected at checkout or billed by carrier at delivery
Currently, packages from China under $800 face either the applicable tariff rate (MFN + Section 301 + Section 122) or a simplified flat fee. There is no duty-free threshold for Chinese origin goods.
How This Affects Different Buyers
🛒 If You're a Consumer
Orders from Temu, Shein, AliExpress, or any Chinese platform now include import duties. Expect Chinese goods to cost 25-57% more than before depending on category.
📦 If You're a Dropshipper
The dropshipping model relying on duty-free Chinese shipments is fundamentally broken. Every package from China to a US customer now incurs duties, destroying margins on low-cost items. Consider US-based fulfillment or non-China suppliers.
📊 If You're an FBA Seller
If you import from China in bulk, the de minimis change doesn't directly affect you — you were already paying duties on commercial shipments. But any part of your supply chain using small-parcel imports from China now costs more.
Is the de minimis change permanent? It was first implemented under IEEPA and has been continued under Section 122. Even if Section 122 expires, the administration has shown clear intent to keep de minimis closed for China. Legislation to formally codify the closure has been introduced in Congress.