Important U.S. Shipping Update: Section 321 / De Minimis Exemption Suspended

The U.S. de minimis exemption (Section 321) is suspended

Since August 29, 2025, the United States has suspended the Section 321 de minimis exemption, which previously let shipments valued under $800 enter the U.S. duty-free with minimal paperwork. Every commercial shipment to the U.S. now needs full customs clearance, regardless of its value, country of origin, or shipping method — shipments sent through international postal services are the one exception, and they face a separate duty structure instead.

What changed

• All commercial shipments to the U.S. are now subject to duties and taxes, no matter the declared value
• Full customs documentation is required for every shipment, not just higher-value ones
• Shipments sent via international postal services face a duty in roughly the $80–$200 range per item, depending on the country of origin

Who this affects

• E-commerce sellers shipping directly to U.S. customers
• Canadian businesses that previously relied on low-value shipments to avoid duties
• Any shipper without complete, accurate customs documentation

What every shipment needs now

1. A complete commercial invoice, including:
   • A detailed product description
   • Country of origin
   • A 10-digit U.S. HS code (HTSUS)
   • Accurate quantity and declared value
   • An importer tax ID (an EIN or SSN for formal entries)
2. Complete recipient contact information, so customs clearance isn’t held up trying to reach the receiver

How GoorooShip helps

• Digital customs submission that speeds up clearance and reduces manual paperwork
• Duty and tax pre-calculation, so charges aren’t a surprise at delivery
• Full customs brokerage support for shipments that need extra help clearing the border

If you’re not sure whether your documentation meets the current requirements, contact our team — we can review it before you ship.