The end of the U.S. $800 de minimis rule: What it means for consumers

These changes aren’t just about luxury goods. Everyday items, like slippers, supplements, and kitchen knives, will also be hit with higher costs. 

Fewer choices, longer waits 

The end of de minimis will likely reduce the number of smaller international sellers able to compete in the U.S. market. Many emerging brands will find the extra costs and paperwork too burdensome to justify selling here, which means: 

• Less product variety on U.S. marketplaces 

• Fewer niche or specialty items from overseas 

• Potentially longer shipping times as customs clearance adds processing steps 

For Canadian merchants in particular, this is a big shift. Over 85% of Canadian exporters sell to the U.S., and many have built operations around sending low-value parcels duty-free. Now, they’ll face higher costs, more paperwork, and possible fulfillment delays. 

How will returns change for consumers?

One hidden consequence of the de minimis removal is the impact on returns. Under the old rule, many items sent back to the U.S. after being shipped under the $800 threshold could avoid paying duties a second time. Now, those protections are gone. If you return an international purchase, you may end up paying duties twice: once on the original shipment and again when the product comes back through customs. Brands may start limiting or charging for international returns to offset these costs, and the refund process itself could take longer as each return must clear customs with full documentation. For shoppers, that means returns will require more time, more paperwork, and potentially more out-of-pocket expense than before. 

What can you do as a shopper?

While you can’t control the policy change, you can adjust how you shop: 

1. Check product origin before you buy. Even U.S. based sites may ship from overseas warehouses. 
2. Look for DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) at checkout. This means duties/taxes are included upfront, so no surprise bills later. 
3. Factor duties into your budget. A $50 overseas item could easily become $70+ after fees.

 Conclusion

The removal of the $800 de minimis rule is one of the biggest shifts in U.S. trade policy in years. For consumers, it means higher prices, more customs paperwork, and fewer frictionless global shopping experiences. For brands and retailers, it marks the end of a low cost entry point into the U.S. market. 

If your favorite overseas brand starts charging more or takes longer to deliver after August 29, now you’ll know why. 

If you are a merchant and interested in growing your resilience to changes like the de minimis exemption removal, reach out to our team of experts for more information.