President Trump issued an executive order May 12 that lowers not only the “reciprocal” tariffs the U.S. is imposing on imports from China but also the duties assessed on low-value imports from China.
Effective May 2 the U.S. eliminated the de minimis exemption for products of China (including Hong Kong), which had allowed the informal, duty-free entry of articles that have a retail value of $800 or less and are imported by one person in one day. As a result, since that date such shipments from China sent through the international postal network and transported by carriers have been subject to one of the following two duty rates, as elected by the carrier: (1) 120 percent of the value of the postal item containing goods, or (2) $100 per postal item containing goods.
However, Trump has now lowered the first amount from 120 percent to 54 percent, effective with respect to goods entered or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption on or after 12:01 a.m. EDT on May 14. The alternative per item charge remains at $100 but will not increase to $200 on June 1 as previously specified.
