US De Minimis 2026: $800 Exemption Ended for China Imports

Updated: 2026-10-15

No. The US $800 de minimis exemption no longer applies to goods from China. Duty-free de minimis treatment ended for goods from China and Hong Kong on May 2, 2025, and for goods from every country on August 29, 2025. Since then, a shipment of any value needs a customs entry and pays any duties that apply.

An earlier version of this article said the $800 exemption still applied and might be reduced later. That was wrong. We rewrote it on 2026-10-15 using the official sources listed at the end.

Is the $800 De Minimis Threshold in Effect for China Imports?

No. For goods from China and Hong Kong, duty-free de minimis entry ended at 12:01 a.m. Eastern time on May 2, 2025 (Executive Order 14256). For all other countries it ended at 12:01 a.m. Eastern time on August 29, 2025 (Executive Order 14324).

In June 2026, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) made the suspension indefinite by regulation for every shipping mode, including international mail. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act also repeals the legal basis for the commercial de minimis exemption from July 1, 2027.

What the Rules Are Now

Shipment value: any value, including $800 or less
Customs entry: a formal or informal entry is required; de minimis entry is no longer available
Duties: the normal duty for the product's HTS code, plus any extra duties that apply to goods from China
Mail: since July 24, 2026, low-value mail shipments use CBP's new postal informal entry process
Still exempt: bona fide gifts and personal articles carried by travelers, which use separate exemptions

What Duties Apply to Goods from China Now?

The extra duties imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) have ended. On February 20, 2026, the Supreme Court ruled that IEEPA does not authorize tariffs, and Executive Order 14389 ended those duties the same day. This includes the 2025 "fentanyl" and "reciprocal" tariffs behind the 145% and 30% figures you may have seen.

As of October 15, 2026, goods from China generally pay:

the normal (MFN) duty for the product's HTS code;
China Section 301 duties: 25% on Lists 1 to 3 and 7.5% on List 4A, with higher rates on some products such as electric vehicles, semiconductors and solar cells;
a further 12.5% Section 301 duty on products of China, in effect since July 24, 2026, with some product exemptions, including goods covered by Section 232 duties;
Section 232 duties on certain products, such as steel, aluminum and copper;
anti-dumping or countervailing duties on some specific products.

A temporary 10% surcharge under Section 122 applied to most imports from February 24 to July 23, 2026. It has expired.

Rates and exemptions change often. Check your product's HTS code in the official US tariff schedule (hts.usitc.gov) before you order, or ask a licensed customs broker.

What This Means for Small Shipments

Small parcels from China no longer enter the US without duty. Before you order samples or small batches, add the duty, the customs entry and the broker or carrier fees to your landed cost.

Splitting an order into several parcels under $800 no longer avoids duty. Every parcel needs an entry and pays duty.

Strategic Adjustments for 2026

With the de minimis exemption gone, these are the most effective ways to protect your margins:

1. Increase Minimum Order Quantities (MOQs)

Instead of importing small quantities frequently, negotiate larger MOQs with Chinese suppliers. This spreads fixed costs (tariffs, shipping, inspection) across more units, reducing per-unit tariff burden. Most Chinese manufacturers offer 10-30% price reductions at MOQs of 500-1,000 units versus 100-unit orders.

2. Negotiate Better FOB Prices

With tariffs increasing your landed costs, every dollar saved at FOB becomes critical. Average Chinese suppliers offer 8-15% price reductions for orders of 5,000+ units or prepayment arrangements. This requires stronger negotiation but is essential for maintaining competitiveness.

3. Consolidate Shipments

Instead of multiple small shipments under the old $800 threshold, consolidate orders into fewer, larger shipments. This simplifies customs documentation and allows you to pay tariffs once per consolidated shipment rather than multiple times.

4. Build Tariff Costs into Pricing Strategy

Increase retail prices by 5-10% to account for tariff obligations. This is more transparent to customers and maintains profit margins. Monitor competitor pricing to ensure you remain competitive.

How Professional China Sourcing Agents Can Help

Navigating 2026’s tariff changes requires expertise that many small importers don’t possess internally. This is where experienced China sourcing agents like Mangors Sourcing become invaluable. As a full-service China sourcing partner, Mangors helps small and medium businesses:

Optimize supplier selection: Identify manufacturers offering the best FOB pricing and MOQ structures to offset tariff increases
Navigate tariff classification: Correctly classify products to minimize tariff rates (some items face 5% duties; others face 50%+)
Manage customs documentation: Prepare accurate invoices and certificates of origin to avoid tariff penalties
Quality control and inspection: Ensure products meet standards before shipment, preventing costly rejections or refusals at US ports
Logistics optimization: Coordinate shipping, consolidation, and customs clearance to minimize delays and additional fees
Strategic sourcing planning: Develop 2026 compliance strategies tailored to your product category and business model

Key Takeaways for Your 2026 Sourcing Plan

The $800 de minimis exemption ended for goods from China and Hong Kong on May 2, 2025, and for all countries on August 29, 2025.
Every shipment from China, whatever its value, now needs a customs entry and pays any duties that apply.
The IEEPA tariffs ended on February 20, 2026. Section 301, Section 232 and normal duties still apply.
Check the HTS code and current rates for each product before you order.

Contact Mangors Sourcing today for a free consultation. Our team will review your current China sourcing strategy, calculate the exact tariff impact on your products, and develop a customized 2026 compliance and cost-optimization plan. Whether you need supplier vetting, quality control, shipping coordination, or tariff classification guidance, we’re here to keep your business profitable through the tariff transition.

Ready to protect your margins? Schedule your free China sourcing consultation with Mangors Sourcing now.

Official Sources

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De Minimis Rule 2026: The $800 Exemption Has Ended for China Imports