End of Duty-Free Imports: What This Means for U.S. Customers & SME’s (Small to medium sized enterprises).

Overview

Starting 29 August 2025, the U.S. will remove its de minimis exemption. From that point, every international shipment, no matter the value, will be subject to tariffs and customs clearance charges.

This policy change is especially tough on smaller businesses and creators who sell affordable products such as charms, pins, stickers, or bookmarks, as added costs may outweigh the item value.

To help reduce surprise charges from 29th August 2025, we will only ship your orders using reliable courier services like DHL, which calculate duties based on order value rather than applying unpredictable flat penalties (which, after the removal of the de minimis exemption will be between $80–$200 per parcel for postal shipments). This ensures a clearer and more consistent experience for our U.S. customers.

New U.S. Tariff Rules: Here’s What to Expect

This new update will affect you if you’re...

• one of our customers, located in the United States, or
• a small business shipping products into the United States.

From August 29, 2025, the U.S. government will end the de minimis exemption for all low-value imports, from all countries, including shipments from the UK.

This change follows an executive order signed on July 30, 2025, by President Trump, which removes the long-standing $800 tax-free allowance on international parcels.

For years, this rule allowed small businesses to send affordable items into the U.S. without additional tariffs, but from late August, that will no longer be the case.

The Impact on Independent Sellers

The businesses hit hardest by this change are small brands and independent creators, those selling through Etsy, eBay, or their own online shops, often sending low-cost products like a keychain, pin badges or a single sticker sheet to their U.S. customer base.

For many small businesses, this makes shipping single low‑value items to the U.S. unworkable unless orders are bundled into larger shipments, U.S. fulfilment partners are used, or part of the cost is absorbed, which is unrealistic for many indie sellers and small businesses.

What Does De Minimis Mean?

Since the 1930s, U.S. customers have been able to import goods valued under $800 without paying customs duties or taxes, thanks to the de minimis rule. This made international shopping smooth, affordable, and especially helpful for small businesses selling low‑cost items like charms, pins, stickers, and accessories.

As of 29 August 2025, the de minimis exemption will be scrapped.

What Changes for Buyers & Sellers

• All international shipments to the U.S. will now be taxed, regardless of their value or carrier.
• Items sent via the postal services (e.g., Royal Mail, USPS) should expect a flat import charge of $80–$200 per parcel  for the first six months of this new policy (up to Feb 2026).
• After the first six months: postal shipments move to ad valorem (value‑based) duties, typically ranging between 5%–15%+ depending on the product (see our HS Codes and Duty Rates table further down this page).
• Private couriers (DHL, FedEx): duties are calculated as a percentage of the product value (by HS code), as well as the shipping cost.

Flat-Rate Charges vs Value‑Based Tariffs

Between August 29, 2025 and February 2026, every UK-to-U.S. shipment will be subject to import duties, even if the order is under the old $800 threshold. The way those charges are applied depends entirely on how the parcel is shipped and documented…

Top Tips for Keeping Costs Down & Avoiding the $80–$200 Charge

Avoiding the flat‑rate fee is actually quite straightforward; follow these steps to keep things simple and stress‑free (we will do this on your behalf when you place an order with us)...

Example Order (DDP)

Let’s break down an example order, with $100 acrylic keychains, $100 vinyl stickers and DDP shipping:

Sending the same order via a regular postal service (e.g., Royal Mail → USPS) during the transition could result in a total of around $285–$405 due to the flat postal penalty.

HS Codes & U.S. Duty Rates

The table below lists our products’ HS codes and the corresponding U.S. duty rates.

Since shipments from the UK to the U.S. now carry a 10% tariff on top of these duties, we’ve added a little help. Use our U.S. exclusive discount code TARIFF10 to save 10% and offset these new tariffs in full.

Our Plan to Keep Your Orders Moving Smoothly

From 29 August, all of our U.S. shipments will be handled by DDP courier services, to avoid new flat‑rate postal penalties and ensure smoother customs clearance for our customers.

We promise to…

• Provide complete and accurate customs paperwork, including declared values and HS codes.
• Issue full commercial invoices with every shipment.
• Try to offset any tariffs as much as we possibly can.
• Work hard to keep shipping costs as competitive as possible.
• Include all tariffs and duties at checkout (DDP), so you know the full cost upfront.
• Stay open and transparent about potential charges, and keep you updated whenever rules change.