We were aware that the return of Donald Trump would have far-reaching consequences for the entire world and across all sectors. Now, with the tariff war somewhat subsiding, we are beginning to see how this is impacting an area we discuss with you every day: commerce.
And the key word is “minimis.”
After years in which the tariff exemption known as de minimis enabled millions of low-value transactions, Donald Trump’s new executive order has brought this system to an end. Effective August 29, 2025, every package entering the United States, regardless of its value or country of origin, will be subject to tariffs and much stricter customs procedures.
Unsurprisingly, this is causing a minor earthquake at the logistical level.
Until now, the United States permitted the importation of shipments valued at up to $800 without paying duties. This policy not only simplified procedures but was essential to the success of eCommerce giants such as Shein and Temu, whose models involved sending millions of low-cost packages directly from Asia. It also benefited any Spanish eCommerce business seeking to sell products directly to U.S. customers within that threshold, such as clothing, footwear, or accessories.
The White House justifies this measure with three reasons: unfair competition, the fight against counterfeiting (according to its data, 97% of items seized in 2024 were linked to the de minimis exemption), and smuggling of fentanyl and opioids (98% of what was seized entered through this channel).
As we explained previously, Trump’s executive order from several weeks ago completely eliminates this exemption, instead establishing two methods for calculating the new tariffs:
In this context, one group is clearly impacted by this decision: postal operators, who are responsible for delivering shipments from all over the globe to the United States. As a result, the news has compelled European operators to make drastic decisions.
A few days ago, PostEurop, the association representing Europe’s postal services, warned that unless technical processes are defined soon—for example, how to collect tariffs, what data to transmit, and how to interact with U.S. customs—, many countries might be compelled to suspend shipments to the United States temporarily.
Within this framework, Correos, the Spanish postal operator, has announced that as of August 25 it will cease to accept commercial packages bound for the United States and Puerto Rico valued at $800 or less. Only documents, books, and gifts sent between private individuals of up to $100 are still allowed. Correos emphasizes that the suspension is temporary and that services will resume once solutions are in place to adapt to the new regulations.
However, as mentioned, this has affected most postal operators. For instance, a major player like German DHL Parcel has announced that it will not accept business customer shipments to the United States as of August 22. However, and here there is an important nuance which we will explain further below, it will continue operating with DHL Express, its commercial courier branch, as this service is able to process customs declarations directly with U.S. authorities.
This same pattern is repeated outside Europe. Japan Post, Singapore Post, Hongkong Post, and New Zealand Post have likewise suspended postal shipments of goods to the United States and advise their customers to use express services.
Let us now elaborate on the difference between express services and postal services—something that might stand out to you if you are not accustomed to the world of shipping.
These operators function under the Universal Postal Convention, with simplified customs procedures and agreements with USPS (United States Postal Service, not to be confused with UPS). This channel is precisely the one being blocked by the new order, as low-value shipments will no longer benefit from those special processes.
They do not rely on the postal channel; rather, they manage customs entries directly with Customs and Border Protection (CBP). For this reason, they can continue to operate, although all packages they transport will be subject to tariffs and must comply with the corresponding bureaucracy.
As explained by DHL, “the customs clearance process for postal shipments is generally simpler and more cost-effective. The basis for postal customs clearance is the Universal Postal Convention. (…) Commercial customs clearance, such as that offered by DHL Express, remains available to customers. (…) This type of clearance primarily affects the movement of commercial goods and is often conducted by customs agents or specialized intermediaries. Commercial shipments are subject to more stringent requirements, particularly regarding the description, classification, and proof of value of goods, as well as other controls.”
The declaration of goods when shipping with DHL Express is carried out by DHL as a customs agent in the United States. The payment of applicable tariffs is made in accordance with the ‘Incoterm’ (International Commercial Terms) agreed upon by sender and recipient. This specifies who is responsible for costs and risks during transportation of the goods, and who is responsible for customs clearance.”
The impact of all these changes on European sellers—and particularly Spanish sellers—is complex:
It is indeed difficult to predict exactly how international trade will shift following such a significant measure; however, the consequences may not be limited to the U.S. market alone. In this context, major low-cost goods producers (primarily in China) will no longer find it as easy to access this market. This could prompt such companies to redirect their immense production volumes toward other markets, such as the European one, where “de minimis” regulations are more flexible… for now. Bear in mind that the E.U. is also considering taking action in this regard and eliminating the customs exemption for packages under 150 euros.
The result is unpredictable, but we may witness a significant increase in competition for local sellers (in our case, Spanish sellers). This could accelerate market changes: by flooding the market with products even cheaper than those already available, domestic sellers might be pressured to lower their prices, thereby affecting their profit margins.
As discussed, these changes amount to a redesign of import procedures:
It is important to emphasize, as noted, that European postal operators such as Correos or Deutsche Post have not yet resumed commercial shipments. They will do so once their systems have adapted to meet the new requirements. Until then, the only operational channel is commercial couriers.
What you must consider if you plan to ship to the United States as of September:
And above all, remain patient.
Image: Flux Schnell
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