The way Americans shop online is about to change forever. A big change is coming to online shopping in the U.S. on Friday. That’s when President Trump’s policy suspending the “de minimus” rule on international shipments to the U.S. takes effect. This means packages from overseas will cost more and take longer to arrive.
What is the De Minimis Rule?
For years, the de minimis rule has allowed packages worth $800 or less to enter America without paying extra fees. Under the de minimis treatment, imported goods that are valued at or under $800 are exempt from tariff duties. This made online shopping from other countries cheap and easy.
Under the U.S. de minimis trade policy, most imported goods valued at or under $800 (per person, per day) have been duty-free since March 2016. The threshold was $200 before that date. The rule saved both shoppers money and the government time by avoiding small tariff collections.
Timeline of Changes
The changes didn’t happen all at once. The U.S. eliminated the de minimis exemption for products originating in China and Hong Kong on May 2, 2025. Now, the de minimis exception will be eliminated starting August 29, 2025, at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time for all countries except China, which was already affected earlier.
How This Affects Your Shopping
Higher Costs Are Coming
When you buy something online from another country, you’ll now pay extra fees. These include customs duties, processing fees, and handling charges. Items that used to cost $50 might now cost $60 or more after all the new fees.
Longer Wait Times
New customs regulations take effect on August 29, and many European postal agencies and companies say that until new systems are set up, they can’t ship some goods. Your packages will need more paperwork and inspection time at customs.
Some Good News
Gifts worth less than $100 are not affected. This means small presents from family and friends overseas won’t face the new rules right away.
Impact on Online Stores
Many small businesses that sell products from overseas are scrambling to adjust. It’s the latest example of how President Donald Trump’s sweeping trade policy is impacting US consumers and businesses. Some companies might stop shipping to the U.S., while others will pass the extra costs to customers.
International shopping platforms that relied on cheap shipping from Asia will need to find new ways to stay competitive. Many are already warning customers about price increases.
What to Expect Next
The shipping industry is working hard to handle these changes. Beyond pricing pressures, shipping delays could emerge as Customs and Border Protection processes more packages through the regular customs system.
Companies are telling customers to expect delays during the busy holiday shopping season. The new system needs time to work smoothly, so patience will be important.
The Bottom Line
This change marks the end of an era for online shopping. While the government aims to protect American businesses and security, shoppers will feel the impact in their wallets. Smart consumers should expect higher prices and longer delivery times when buying from overseas.
The $800 rule helped make global shopping easy and affordable. Now, Americans will need to think twice before clicking “buy” on that international deal. The days of cheap, quick packages from around the world are coming to an end.
