President Trump Ends De Minimis Exemptions To Counter China's Role In Synthetic Opioid Crisis

On April 2, 2025, President Donald Trump announced a decisive action to close de minimis exemptions for Chinese imports, a move aimed at curbing the flow of illicit synthetic opioids into the United States. This policy change, outlined in a White House fact sheet, is a direct response to the ongoing fentanyl crisis and China's role in facilitating the shipment of these dangerous substances through e-commerce loopholes.

This action had been paused to allow Customs and Border Protection to develop adequate systems in place to collect these tariff revenues. According to the fact sheet, the Secretary of Commerce has notified the White House that those systems are now in place. Therefore, President Trump will end duty-free de minimis treatment for covered goods from China and Hong Kong starting May 2, 2025, at 12:01 am.

• Imported goods sent through means other than the international postal network that are valued at or under $800 and that would otherwise qualify for the de minimis exemption will be subject to all applicable duties, which shall be paid in accordance with applicable entry and payment procedures.
• All relevant postal items containing goods that are sent through the international postal network that are valued at or under $800 and that would otherwise qualify for the de minimis exemption are subject to a duty rate of either 30% of their value or $25 per item (increasing to $50 per item after June 1, 2025). This is in lieu of any other duties, including those imposed by prior Orders.

The de minimis rule, which allows goods valued at $800 or less to enter the U.S. without duties or detailed customs scrutiny, has long been exploited by Chinese exporters. According to U.S. officials, traffickers have leveraged this exemption to ship fentanyl and its precursors directly to American consumers, evading traditional enforcement mechanisms. 

The de minimis loophole has also particularly affected the RV aftermarket sector. By shutting down this exemption for China, the Trump administration aims to strengthen national security, protect American families, and hold bad actors accountable.

The closure of the de minimis exemption for Chinese imports is expected to have wide-ranging economic and trade implications. While primarily targeting illicit shipments, the policy will also affect legitimate low-value imports from China, potentially shifting supply chains and encouraging U.S. businesses to source from alternative markets.

For more details on this announcement, visit the official White House statement here. Please contact Samantha Rocci, Director of Federal Affairs (srocci@rvia.org) with questions.