The United States has announced that, starting August 29, the long-standing duty-free allowance for imported parcels valued at $800 or below will be suspended. This policy change applies to all countries and covers both international postal shipments and commercial courier channels.
For cross-border e-commerce sellers, this marks a significant shift:
- Rising Costs: Logistics and tax burdens will increase as the de minimis exemption is removed.
- Strategic Adjustment: Sellers can no longer rely on direct-to-consumer shipping. Shipping via ocean freight and overseas warehouses becomes a necessary strategy.
- Capital Pressure: Higher upfront investments are required for inventory stocking and tariff absorption, raising the entry barrier for small and medium sellers.
- Global Expansion: The growing demand for overseas warehouses is driving more companies to “go global,” not only by building local storage but also by addressing localized services and cross-border team management.
This change underscores a broader trend: regulatory tightening in cross-border trade. Success in the U.S. market will require more than competitive products—it will depend on a company’s ability to combine international reach, localized operations, and regulatory compliance.
The era of “low-cost direct shipping” is ending. The future of cross-border e-commerce lies in internationalization, localization, and compliance-driven operations.