If your international order just got canceled, delayed, or hit with a mystery fee, here’s why: the de minimis exemption is dead, and U.S. import rules just got a whole lot more expensive.
For nearly 100 years, Americans could buy up to $800 worth of goods from abroad without paying import taxes. That ended at 12:01 a.m. Friday, and now every item under that threshold is subject to tariffs ranging from 10 to 50 percent, or a flat fee up to $200. And the fallout is already happening.
Shipping Delays, Price Hikes, and Canceled Orders
More than two dozen countries have paused U.S. shipments entirely while they figure out how to handle the new collection rules. That includes European countries, Japan, and Taiwan. Shopify and Etsy vendors are scrambling to adapt. And overseas sellers are tacking on extra days, costs, and disclaimers.
If you’re a guy who buys hard-to-find gear, indie products, or boutique collectibles online, expect higher costs, fewer options, and longer waits.
What the End of De Minimis Means for You
- Expect higher fees at checkout, especially on platforms like eBay, Etsy, and Shopify.
- Two-day and overnight shipping from overseas? Forget it—delays are now the norm.
- Independent sellers may stop shipping to the U.S. altogether.
- Small U.S. retailers that rely on foreign inventory may raise prices or scale back.
- Even large brands like Coach and Kate Spade expect profit hits due to tariff changes.
Who’s Most Affected?
Shoppers buying from smaller, global vendors—art books, collectibles, niche fashion, specialty paper, yarn, and fan merchandise. Sellers who don’t have customs infrastructure are being cut off mid-transaction. That $100 pop art catalog or $45 enamel pin set? Now carries a $40–$80 duty.
“The U.S. retail system is built on speed and scale,” Casey Armstrong, CMO of ShipBob, a global fulfillment and supply chain platform, told CNBC. “When that engine stutters — whether from tariffs, customs delays, or sourcing constraints — it’s the lowest-margin, fastest-moving goods that disappear first.”
Armstrong predicts that clothing, toys, games, and seasonal items will disappear first. However, it could also cause issues with lower-priced electronics. “Also, many products are refreshed frequently (phones, earbuds, etc.). Some Amazon sellers and big-box stores may have gaps in cheaper electronics and accessories.”
And it’s not just about cost. One UK seller told The Washington Post how his checkout system simply crashes when U.S. buyers try to pay. Others are holding shipments until the chaos calms down.
Why It Matters
The policy shift may help capture lost tax revenue and reduce counterfeit imports from platforms like Temu or Shein—but the real squeeze is hitting small vendors and passionate collectors. If you’re used to sourcing your gear from across the globe, now’s the time to rethink your strategy.
