CBP Collects $1 Billion Since End of De Minimis Exemption

U.S. Customs and Border Protection said it has collected more than $1 billion in duties on over 246 million shipments valued at $800 or less since the administration began phasing out the de minimis exemption in May 2025, recovering revenue that had previously gone uncollected.

The phaseout began May 2, when low-value shipments from China and Hong Kong lost duty-free eligibility, and concluded worldwide on Aug. 29 with the elimination of the exemption. Since then, U.S. Customs and Border Protection has applied full entry requirements to low-value packages, enabling duty collection, expanded vetting, and interdiction of prohibited goods.

“Reaching the $1 billion milestone so quickly shows just how much revenue was slipping away under the old rules,” said Commissioner Rodney S. Scott. He said the change levels competition for U.S. businesses and strengthens oversight of inbound trade.

CBP data illustrate the scale of de minimis flows. Volumes are measured by bills of lading (BOLs)—commercial carriage documents reflecting declared value at import.

After peaking in fiscal 2024 at roughly 1.36 billion de minimis shipments valued at $64.6 billion, volumes declined in fiscal 2025 to about 942.5 million shipments with a declared value of $48.1 billion, reflecting the policy shift.

Air transport dominates de minimis traffic, accounting for roughly 795 million BOLs in 2025, followed by truck at about 142 million; vessel and rail remain comparatively small.

Entry Type 86 filings—used for expedited low-value processing—fell to about 635 million in 2025 from nearly 948 million in 2024, while postal volumes continued a multiyear decline.

Enforcement outcomes have followed. Since de minimis ended for China and Hong Kong, CBP said seizures of unsafe and non-compliant low-value goods increased 82 percent, including counterfeits, narcotics, faulty electronics, and items containing hazardous chemicals.

“With increased visibility into data for these low-value shipments, we’re better equipped to detect and disrupt criminal networks,” said Susan S. Thomas, acting executive assistant commissioner for the Office of Trade.

CBP said package volumes continue to grow as importers adjust to the new rules. The agency characterized the change as part of broader trade-enforcement efforts to ensure compliance with U.S. customs law, protect consumers, and safeguard domestic industries.