Pokémon cards under $800 used to enter the U.S. totally duty-free and hassle-free. That all changed on August 29, 2025, when the de minimis exemption officially ended.

Now, all shipments, whether it’s a $5,000 luxury watch or a $50 Pokémon booster pack, face 10 to 50% tariffs and extra paperwork.

In today’s episode:

For almost a hundred years, the de minimis exemption made it easy and DUTY-FREE to import low-value goods, such as a booster box of Pokémon cards, in the United States.

Those days are over!

As of August 29, 2025, President Trump’s Executive Order ended the long-standing de minimis exemption, which let importers bring goods valued under $800 into the U.S. without tariffs or complicated paperwork.

The government is insisting it's a win for security and fairness, pointing out that 90% of all seized illegal shipments, like fentanyl and counterfeit goods, came through the de minimis system. But small and mid-sized importers, especially those that depend on low-value shipments, are paying the price with increased shipping costs, longer delays, and more paperwork.

Now, all packages are subject to tariffs ranging from 10% to 50%, whether you’re importing a smartphone from Mexico (30% tariff), coffee from Brazil (50% tariff), or a booster box of Pokémon cards from Japan (15% tariff).

Some carriers are also charging flat duties of $80 to $200 per package, which further affects business models that relied on the de minimis exemption.

Global postal services, including those in Belgium, Denmark, and New Zealand, have suspended shipments to the U.S. to update their systems for new customs rules. Major courier DHL also announced that it would stop accepting business parcels to the U.S. starting August 29, 2025.

Paperwork has also become far more complicated. Every package now requires full customs clearance, the correct tariff codes, and detailed product information. The process is slower, stricter, and more expensive than before.

The end of de minimis has started a new era for global trade. As new tariffs are imposed, many businesses need to re-evaluate their supply chains, adjust their pricing strategies and analyze margins, and work with compliance experts to avoid problems at the border. 

Today is the time to trade 10 times smarter and take control!

Because from now on, the de minimis exemption is dead…and tariffs are here to stay!

📈 Section 301 Tariff Exclusions Extended to November 29, 2025. The USTR extended 178 product and equipment exclusions from Section 301 tariffs on Chinese imports through November 29, 2025. Importers must use HTSUS codes 9903.88.69 or 9903.88.70 to claim exclusions.

🚫 CBP to Auto-Reject Incomplete Cargo Manifests: CBP’s ACE system will automatically reject cargo filings missing important details like cargo description, shipper, or consignee names. Testing is live in the ACE Certification Environment, with a full rollout planned for September 27, 2025, across all transport modes.

🌍 UNCTAD: Uncertainty Is Disrupting Global Markets. Trade policy uncertainty in 2025 disrupts global supply chains and raises costs. US tariff changes caused a 10% increase in air shipments early in the year. Developed countries front-loaded goods; the least developed countries struggled.

🕒 CBP Announces 2026 Tobacco and Sugar Quotas. U.S. Customs announces 2026 tobacco and sugar quotas opening dates: tobacco on September 15, 2025, and sugars on October 1, 2025. Importers must submit entry summaries with required certificates promptly during these windows.

See CBP’s updated FAQs for detailed insights!

John Deere, a major manufacturer of farm equipment, has announced its latest round of layoffs, cutting 238 workers due to weakening demand and rising costs for farmers. Tariffs are a key factor behind the company’s struggles. Deere estimates it could face up to a $600 million hit from tariff expenses for the fiscal year 2025.

Prof. Michael Hudson, a renowned economist and author, explains how today’s tariffs differ from 19th-century protective tariffs and why they won’t help U.S. industries grow.