The End of U.S. Duty‑Free De Minimis

the end of the minimis

The White House has issued a sweeping executive order that eliminates the longstanding “de minimis” duty-free exemption for low-value imports, effective August 29, 2025. Under 19 U.S.C. §1321(a)(2)(C), shipments valued at $800 or less per person per day were previously allowed into the U.S. without duties or formal customs processing. CBP reports that the volume of de minimis shipments grew from 134 million in 2015 to more than 1.36 billion in 2024. However, … Read More

U.S. Customs User Fees to Adjust on October 1, 2025

MPF Minimum and Maximum to Increase

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has announced upcoming adjustments to select customs user fees, including changes to the Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF) for formal entries, effective October 1, 2025. These changes are being implemented in accordance with the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act), which authorizes annual inflation-based fee updates. What’s Changing? While the MPF ad valorem rate of 0.3464% will remain unchanged, … Read More

Is the MPF Increasing this year?

Q: Is the Merchandising Processing Fee (MPF) Increasing in 2021? A: Yes, U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP), posted notice of the below-noted increase(s) in user fees, which are effective October 1, 2023. CBP will increase Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) ‘User Fees’ by 26.670 per­cent to adjust for inflation in the fiscal year 2024. New Rates Include: MPF Minimum:  $31.67 (previously $27.75) MPF … Read More

Continuous Bond: What Is It, and Why Do You Need One?

Q&A custom brokerage GLC services Continuous bond

Q: Why do I need a continuous bond? A: Customs Bonds are required by US Customs for all commercial imports valued at $2,500 or more, even if a shipment is duty-free.  A bond guarantees to U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) that the importer will make good on its payment for the duties and taxes due per shipment.  There are Single Entry Bonds (SEBs) that … Read More