Heads up! The U.S. government just made a big change. Starting August 29, 2025, those packages under $800? You’ll now have to pay extra fees on them. Anything cheap you ordered that sailed through customs before? Not anymore.
This isn’t going away anytime soon.
What’s Up?
The old rule ended early this morning. Now, every package coming in gets hit with a tariff, no matter how small.
Postal services have six months to adjust. They can pay a set fee of around $80 to $200 per package, depending on where it’s from. After that, expect to pay full price.
This isn’t just about China or Hong Kong. It’s everywhere.
Why the Change?
The White House says it’s for safety and fairness.
For years, the de minimis rule was basically a loophole. Loads of small shipments came in without getting checked properly. Officials say this made it easy for bad stuff like fentanyl and fake products to get through.
One official said straight up: “This is permanent. It’s not changing back.”
Who’s Going to Suffer?
Everyone will notice this, but some more than others.
Small businesses and online sellers on places like Etsy, eBay, and Shopify rely on goods from other countries. Their stock prices have already dropped Etsy is down 14%, eBay about 6%.
Regular people will also feel it. That $5 item you ordered from overseas? It might cost twice as much soon because of tariffs and delays.
Postal services around the world are also struggling with this. Many have already slowed down or stopped shipping to the U.S. because they can’t figure out how to handle the new duties.
Some stores are trying to find workarounds. Others are just stopping international orders.
What It Means for You
This is what you need to know:
Things will cost more. Plain and simple.
Shipping will probably take longer. Delivery companies are confused, customs is stricter, and packages are piling up.
Everyday shoppers will feel the pinch, especially those who buy cheap stuff online. Lower-income families and small online sellers might be affected the most.
Remember when buying something cheap from another country was easy? Now it’s taxes, paperwork, and waiting.
The Bigger Picture
This shows a shift in U.S. trade stuff. The de minimis rule kept small imports moving fast and cheap for years. Now it’s over.
And it’s not coming back.
The U.S. wants more control, safer borders, and more money from tariffs. But this change also messes with customer trust, business stability, and global shipping.
Last Thoughts
The end of the de minimis rule is a big deal. You’ll see it everywhere, from your Amazon cart to your Etsy shop.
So, if you buy stuff online, expect to pay more and wait longer.
If you run a small business, you might need to rethink where you get your products.
And if you’re in government, you’ve just said that online shopping matters.
The message is clear: You have to pay for everything now.