August 29, 2025 - In July, the Trump administration effectively removed the “de minimis” exemption, which allows packages worth less than US$800 to come into the U.S. duty free, and the move is being hailed as a win for cycling.
“This represents a significant win for bicycle retailers and manufacturers that pay tariffs on imports only to be undermined by de minimis shipments sent directly to consumers without any tariff,” according to People for Bikes that has long advocated for ending de minimis shipments because of the significant impact they have on the bike industry.
The “de minimis” exemption not only gives offshore sellers a major advantage but such shipments can also include counterfeit, untested, and unsafe products such as uncertified lithium-ion batteries resulting in potential harm to consumers while undermining bicycle businesses.
A total of 1.36 billion packages were sent in 2024 under this exemption, for goods worth $64.6 billion, according to data from the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Agency reports CTV. De minimis shipments increased dramatically when the duty-free threshold changed from $200 to $800 in 2015.
The exemption had previously been slated to end in July 2027 as part of sweeping legislation passed by Congress, but Trump’s executive order in July eliminated the provision much sooner, giving businesses, customs officials and postal services less time to prepare reports CNBC.
The exemption is set to expire on August 29 and postal services around Europe including Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Italy and more have announced that they are suspending the shipment of many packages to the United States amid confusion over new import duties.
Read more at People for Bikes here; at CTV here; and in CNBC here.
