United States of America: Announced Rulemaking to Reduce De Minimis Volume and Strengthen Trade Enforcement

On 13 September 2024, the White House announced, as part of a Fact Sheet on de minimis reform, a Proposed Rulemaking to Reduce De Minimis Volume and Strengthen Trade Enforcement. According to the announcement, the Rulemaking aims to tackle the abuse of the de minimis exemption, which eliminates duties and taxes for imports under a certain price, particularly by China-founded e-commerce platforms. Under the Proposed Rulemaking, products covered by tariffs under Sections 201, 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, or Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, would be excluded from the de minimis exemption. According to the announcement, tariffs under these sections cover a significant percentage of US imports, including textile and apparel imports from China.