Trump just announced he is killing the duty-free de minimus rule for shipments < $800.

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/07/trump-suspends-trade-loophole-for-cheap-online-retailers-globally/

He killed this in April for China, now applying that to the entire world.

For individuals, it means that more purchasers will have to go through big retailers (Amazon) as the incentive to sell directly to individuals is greatly lessened.

FYI, the estimated annual budget cost of the de minimus rule is around $10 Billion, so small potatoes by any measure.

But, of course, the price of goods will increase much more than that to consumers, as most goods will see at least one additional middle-man (for example, Amazon) and some will see new aggregators that sell on Amazon etc., so - two additional middle-men.

Most hurt:

Small businesses, who now will have to have all shipments go through the Customs morass. As opposed to, in effect, having packages air-freighted from the originating companies. Instead of getting that custom prototype electronics board in a few days, it will now take much longer, and a sincere prayer it doesn't get lost in Customs.

All in all, bad for consumers and bad for many small businesses. Good for middle-men, particularly Amazon.

I know that many here associate this rule with Temu etc. and cheap China ****, if so, I sincerely disagree.

I'm sure they get a part of the pie like a booth rental for a hairstylist, but people don't realize how many small businesses work off of Amazon.

Poor drop shippers.

Pichael Thompson said:

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You can always buy American & not be affected by customs if this a big deal for you

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For many goods, particularly electronics and mechanical assemblies, you are absolutely incorrect.

They are just not manufactured here. Their components are not manufactured here. And we don't have the capablity to manufacture them here.

See the story below, the rather infamous attempt of a man to manufacture and all-american sourced grill brush. Summary courtesy grok.

Answers like this show you (and others) are not aware of how little capacity th US has for small run (less than 5-10,000) manufactruring runs. And it is MUCH worse for prototyping.

Which is only important it you want our creative types to be able to invent and sell products, as opposed to relying totally on Chinese ****.

It would take 10 years plus to redevelop the manufacturing base to start to close the gap, and that is not going to happen.


Summary courtesy grok.

The video you're referring to is likely "I Tried To Make Something In America (The Smarter Scrubber Experiment) - Smarter Every Day 308" by Destin Sandlin, published on YouTube on June 8, 2025. In it, Sandlin documents his challenges in manufacturing a grill scrubber entirely in the U.S., highlighting issues like sourcing materials and the decline of American manufacturing capabilities. You can watch it here: [url=[](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZTGwcHQfLY)][]([/url]

Exactly true. Amazon is an effective marketing and sales platform for a lot of small businesses .

Sadly many folks have given up on America and accepted Chinese hegemony.

Pichael Thompson said:

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You can always buy American & not be affected by customs if this a big deal for you

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I find so little that is truly made in America these days. Even when I specifically look for it, I can't find it. Stuff you assume is made in America and surprise.....label says "made in China".

We are decades too late with these initiatives. Kinda hard to turn the rudder now.

Over_ed said:

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Trump just announced he is killing the duty-free de minimus rule for shipments < $800.

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/07/trump-suspends-trade-loophole-for-cheap-online-retailers-globally/
…,,,…,,,

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quote from the article

• Trump plans to permanently close loophole in 2027
  Trump has called the de minimis exemption a "big scam," claiming that it's a "catastrophic loophole" used to "evade tariffs and funnel deadly synthetic opioids as well as other unsafe or below-market products that harm American workers and businesses into the United States."

2027, so over a year for negotiations?

Pichael Thompson said:

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You can always buy American & not be affected by customs if this a big deal for you

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There are many things that are not made domestically and never will be. So this impacts millions of packages brought in everyday. And does customs have the staff and training to support the workload? No. so items millions of Americans that purchase products overseas that are not produced domestically now have to pay more and wait longer.

richardag said:

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Over_ed said:

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Trump just announced he is killing the duty-free de minimus rule for shipments < $800.

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/07/trump-suspends-trade-loophole-for-cheap-online-retailers-globally/
…,,,…,,,

---

quote from the article

• Trump plans to permanently close loophole in 2027
  Trump has called the de minimis exemption a "big scam," claiming that it's a "catastrophic loophole" used to "evade tariffs and funnel deadly synthetic opioids as well as other unsafe or below-market products that harm American workers and businesses into the United States."

2027, so over a year for negotiations?

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That is the BBB, executive order expidites the process. Aug 29 2025the deminimus ends. Not 2027

I don't think I've ever gone to a small business for anything. Before Amazon it was Walmart, so this changes nothing for me.

If Amazon gave any care at all to small businesses, they would stop enabling intellectual property theft from foreign imitators that ship to the US exclusively through Amazon.

It is the only reason why I try not to shop on Amazon.

Amazon needs to have some liability for ignoring intellectual property theft.

No Spin Ag said:

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I don't think I've ever gone to a small business for anything. Before Amazon it was Walmart, so this changes nothing for me.

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You never gone to a Mom and Pop store?