U.S. De Minimis Suspension: Postal Limitations & Shipping Options via cargo/courier services

 The information below helps you choose between courier, air cargo, and sea freight services for the United States under the new U.S. rules.

Executive Summary

• The U.S. has suspended the former $800 de minimis duty-free program (effective Aug 29, 2025). Most mailed goods are now dutiable.
• The long-standing bona fide gift ≤ US$100 exemption remains (person-to-person only; exclusions apply).
• Japan Post (separate organization) has paused certain U.S.-bound items. If you need to send goods, use a courier or freight option instead.
• Japan Luggage Express (JLE) can ship to the U.S. via DHL (discounted charges), air cargo, and sea freight.

What changed in the U.S. (effective Fri, Aug 29, 2025)

• The White House issued an executive order titled “Suspending Duty-Free De Minimis Treatment for All Countries” on July 30, 2025. It ends the $800 de minimis duty-free treatment in 19 U.S.C. §1321(a)(2)(C) for all countries and all modes, with special handling rules for the international postal network.

• For international postal shipments, CBP will collect duties using one of two methods from Aug 29 until a new postal entry process is finalized:

  1. Ad valorem: the “effective IEEPA tariff rate” (country-of-origin based) applied to the package’s value; or

  2. Specific duty per package for up to 6 months: $80 / $160 / $200 depending on the country’s IEEPA tariff band (<16%, 16–25%, >25%). After 6 months, only the ad valorem method remains.

  3. Carriers or qualified parties moving postal items to the U.S. must: post bonds (international carrier bond, activity code 3; or a basic importation/entry bond, activity code 1), register via CBP Form 5106, notify CBP prior to arrival, and remit duties via Pay.gov using the new International Mail Duty worksheet (reporting S-10 barcodes, values, and country of origin for all goods). The informal “CBP-prepared entry” for dutiable mail is discontinued. Formal entry is still required for shipments over $2,500.

• Gift exemption stays: The long-standing $100 bona fide gift exemption in 19 U.S.C. §1321(a)(2)(A) remains in force (as does the $200 traveler-accompanied exemption). The White House fact sheet explicitly confirms this.

Japan Post’s measures (announced Mon, Aug 25, 2025; starts Wed, Aug 27)

• Temporarily suspending acceptance to the U.S. for small packets, parcels, and EMS (goods) that contain:
  • Individual-to-individual gifts valued over US$100
  • Goods intended for sale/consumption
  Japan Post will continue to accept letters, postcards, printed matter, EMS (documents), and gifts under US$100 between individuals.

• This follows Japan Post’s Aug 19 caution that operational details from U.S. authorities were still unclear.

• As an alternative, UGX (U-Global Express)—Japan Post’s courier service—can handle shipments under U.S. customs rules.

• Reuters also reports the same scope (halt of >$100 gifts and goods for sale from Aug 27).

What this means in practice

For senders in Japan via Japan Post  (individuals & small businesses)

• You can still mail gifts under $100 (person-to-person) via Japan Post; mark the parcel clearly as a bona fide gift, list contents and value accurately, and remember the $100 limit applies per recipient per day. Alcohol/tobacco/perfume restrictions still apply under existing rules.

• If your item is for sale or a gift over $100: Japan Post (small packet/parcel/EMS goods) is temporarily not accepting; use UGX or other couriers that can process the new U.S. duty regime. Expect duties to be charged to you or the consignee under the courier’s terms.

For postal/transport operators (how to comply with CBP’s Aug 15 guidance)

1. Select a duty method (one method applied across all your covered postal shipments at a time; you may switch at most once per calendar month with 24-hr notice to CBP):

   • Ad valorem at the country-of-origin’s IEEPA rate, or

   • Specific duty: $80/$160/$200 per item (available only for the first 6 months). Post the required bond:

   • International carrier bond (activity code 3) for carriers; or

   • Basic importation & entry bond (activity code 1) for approved “qualified parties” that will collect/remit duties. Minimums start at $50,000 and scale with expected duty liability.

2. Register the remitting entity with CBP (Form 5106), obtain/importer ID (EIN/SSN/CAN), and ensure the bond is active in ACE eBond before activity.

3. Pre-arrival notification to CBP and monthly Pay.gov submissions using the International Mail Duty worksheet (report S-10 item counts, aggregate values if using ad valorem, and country of origin for each product; for mixed-origin packages using the specific-duty option, use the highest applicable IEEPA band).

4. Know the exceptions: AD/CVD or quota goods, and anything that wasn’t eligible for de minimis before, cannot use the postal duty-remittance workflow; file informal/formal entries instead (formal for >$2,500).

Ship with Japan Luggage Express (Available Now)

All options below comply with the new U.S. requirements. We’ll advise you on product descriptions, country of origin, and duty/tax handling.

Typical Use-Cases

• Need it fast, small/medium size: Choose DHL (discounted via JLE).
• Heavy or multiple cartons, quicker than ocean: Choose Air Cargo.
• Very heavy/bulky or lots of boxes, lowest unit cost: Choose Sea Freight.

Duty/Tax Handling (Overview)

• DHL: Duties and taxes can be billed to the recipient or (if available/arranged) to the shipper.
• Air & Sea: Duties/taxes are paid at U.S. import clearance.
• Expect to provide: accurate contents, declared values, country of origin, and (where applicable) tariff classification (HS code).

Current Postal Limitations

For customers who might post items themselves via Japan Post, here is a neutral summary of what has been publicly announced by Japan Post (subject to change):

Always confirm the latest guidance directly with your postal operator before posting.

FAQ (Short)

Contact Japan Luggage Express

To compare DHL (discounted), air cargo, and sea freight for your item, contact us with the details listed above. We’ll recommend the most suitable, compliant option and provide a quote.