No More Free China Swag: Duties Fight Opioid Mail
Published Date: 4/28/2025
Notice
Summary
Starting soon, low-value packages from China and Hong Kong sent through international mail will no longer be duty-free. New taxes will apply to help stop synthetic opioid shipments and balance trade. If you import small items from these places, expect changes that could affect costs and timing.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
De minimis Exemption Eliminated
The notice removes the de minimis (duty-free) exemption for products of the People’s Republic of China, including products of Hong Kong. If you import low-value goods from China or Hong Kong through international mail, those packages will no longer be duty-free and may face new duties.
New Duty Rate for Postal Packages
The notice establishes a new duty rate that will apply to international postal packages sent to the United States through the international postal network from the People’s Republic of China and Hong Kong. This change means packages from those origins will be assessed at the newly established duty rate when they enter the U.S.
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this federal register document means for your household, plus every other regulation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-16911, Accuracy of Importer of Record Data Submitted to CBP
Starting September 18, 2026, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will crack down on importers by making sure all their info on Form 5106 is 100% accurate. If importers or their brokers mess up or give wrong details, their Importer of Record (IOR) numbers could be canceled right away. This means importers need to double-check their info to avoid losing their IOR number and facing enforcement actions.
2026-16432, Imposition of Import Restrictions on Categories of Archaeological and Ethnological Material of Nepal
This document amends U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regulations to reflect the imposition of import restrictions on certain archaeological and ethnological material from the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal (Nepal). These restrictions are imposed pursuant to an agreement between the United States and Nepal, entered into under the authority of the Convention on Cultural Property Implementation Act. This document amends the CBP regulations by adding Nepal to the list of countries which have bilateral agreements with the United States imposing cultural property import restrictions and contains the Designated List, describing the archaeological and ethnological material to which the restrictions apply.
2026-15610, Agency Information Collection Activities; Extension; Free Trade Agreements (FTAs)
The Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will be submitting the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA). The information collection is published in the Federal Register to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies.
2026-15609, Agency Information Collection Activities; Revision; Cargo Manifest/Declaration, Stow Plan, Container Status Messages and Importer Security Filing
The Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will be submitting the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA). The information collection is published in the Federal Register to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies.
2026-15530, Customs User Fees To Be Adjusted for Inflation in Fiscal Year 2027
This document announces that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is adjusting certain customs user fees and corresponding limitations established by the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) for Fiscal Year 2027 in accordance with the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act) as implemented by the CBP regulations.
2026-15310, Air Declaration Zone Test: Extension
This notice announces that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is extending the Air Declaration Zone Test for an additional two years. Current CBP regulations require each traveler to provide a CBP officer with an oral or written declaration of all articles brought into the United States. The Air Declaration Zone Test streamlines the processing of travelers who enter the United States at air ports of entry by allowing a demonstrative initial declaration to separate travelers who do not have items to declare from those who have items to declare and, in some cases, replace the provision of oral or written declarations.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2025-07302, Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
CMS wants your thoughts on their plan to keep collecting info from the public. This helps make sure the questions they ask aren’t too much work and actually useful. If you have ideas on how to make this easier or clearer, now’s the time to speak up before the deadline!
Next: 2025-07346, Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Products, Whether or Not Assembled Into Modules, From the People's Republic of China: Preliminary Results of Changed Circumstances Reviews, and Intent To Revoke the Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Orders, in Part
The U.S. government plans to stop some extra taxes on certain small solar cells from China. This change mainly affects low-power, off-grid solar cells and could lower costs for businesses using these products. People can share their thoughts before the decision is final, so keep an eye out for updates!