Additional Tariffs and Elimination of De Minimis

For: Shippers, Receivers
Shipping: Packages
Effective: August 29, 2025

What you need to know

The President of The United States has imposed additional tariffs on imports from all countries. These tariffs apply in addition to other existing applicable duties. Further, changes have been made to the De Minimis (duty-free) treatment on low-value shipments.

De Minimis:

From August 29, 2025, the 800 USD De Minimis was effectively eliminated for all countries (for China/Hong Kong it was eliminated on May 2, 2025) and all shipments entering the United States, regardless of their value or country of origin, are subject to all applicable duties and Informal/Formal entry.

Overview of Current Existing Tariffs Based on Country of Origin or Product Specification

General Duty Rate (GDR*):

• Rates vary according to product classification of HTSUS*

Section 301:

• For China-made products, rate varies according to product classification; most products are subject to 7.5% or 25%

IEEPA*:

• China/Hong Kong: 20% IEEPA* Opioid + 10% IEEPA* Reciprocal (to increase to 34% on November 10, unless United States and China agree differently)
• Canada: 35% IEEPA* Opioid for non-qualifying USMCA* products and 10% energy products
• Mexico: 25% IEEPA* Opioid for non-qualifying USMCA* products
• European Union/Japan: 15% IEEPA* Reciprocal including GDR* (Products subject to a ≥15% GDR* have a 0% IEEPA* Reciprocal)
• Brazil: 10% IEEPA* Reciprocal + 40% IEEPA* additional
• India: 25% IEEPA* Reciprocal + 25% IEEPA* additional
• Rest of the World: IEEPA* Adjusted Reciprocal for specific countries, otherwise a 10% IEEPA* Reciprocal rate applies

Section 232:

• Autos and auto parts: 25%
  • Auto parts from the United Kingdom: 10% including GDR*
  • Auto parts from the European Union and Japan: 15% minus GDR* (for products with a GDR* <15%, and 0% for products with GDR* ≥15%)
• Steel, Aluminum and Copper products and derivatives: 50%
  • United Kingdom: 25%
  • Russia: aluminum 200%
• Timber, Lumber, and derivative products from October 14, 2025:
  • 10% softwood timber and lumber
  • 25% upholstered wooden products (30% on January 1, 2026)
  • 25% kitchen cabinets and vanities, including parts (50% on January 1, 2026)
  • Imports from United Kingdom are capped at 10%
  • Imports from the European Union and Japan: 15% minus GDR* (for products with a GDR* <15%, and 0% for products with GDR* ≥15%)
• Ongoing investigations on several sectors:
  • Civil aircraft and jet engines
  • Trucks and truck parts
  • Critical minerals
  • Semiconductors
  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Unmanned Aerial Aircraft
  • Wind turbines and wind turbine parts
  • Polysilicon

Definitions:

• HTSUS*: Harmonized Tariff Schedule of The United States
• IEEPA*: International Emergency Economic Powers Act
• USMCA*: United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement
• GDR*: General Duty Rate

Requirements on Low-Value Shipments

For: Shippers, Receivers
Shipping: Packages
Effective: January 1, 2025

What you need to know

Mexico’s Authorities implemented several major regulatory changes impacting the clearance of Low-value shipments imported through Informal/simplified entries by Express companies. These changes include additional and more detailed data elements:

• Detailed goods description
• Consignee’s TAX ID (RFC/CURP), email address and phone number
• Abolition of De minimis value threshold (with some exceptions)
• Changes to value thresholds and importer registration requirements for low-value clearances

DOF – Diario Oficial de la Federación 

Clearance of Low-Value shipments

For: Shippers, Receivers
Shipping: Packages
Effective: December 3, 2024

What you need to know

The Argentina Customs Authority (ARCA) has published regulatory changes to facilitate the clearance of Informal (Low-Value) shipments:

• Effective December 3, 2024: Establish a De Minimis value threshold within the “Small Shipment” regime for shipments of up to 400 USD based on the value of the goods (FOB). Imports within this value threshold will be exempted from import customs duties and the Customs Statistical Fee but will continue to pay a VAT tax of 0%, 10.5%, or 21% based on the tariff classification (HS code) and other applicable taxes.
• Effective December 4, 2024: Increase the informal import value threshold from 1,000 USD to 3,000 USD based on the value of the goods (FOB).

Detailed information can be found at the Argentina Customs Authority website: General Resolution 5608/2024 increasing import value thresholds.

General Resolution 5608/2024 

Removal of Duty Di Minimis for all Imports

For: Shippers, Receivers
Shipping: Packages
Effective: January 1, 2026

What you need to know

• Goods from the Rest of World to Thailand with a value equal to or above THB 1 will be subject to full duties as per the Thai Customs tariff upon import into Thailand.
• This effectively removes the current De Minimis of THB 1500 down to THB 1 which was known as Category 2 clearances.
• Applies to all imports including Commercial (B2B) and Private (B2C)

Official Thai Customs Website

Import VAT for Low-Value Goods 

For: Shippers, Receivers
Shipping: Packages
Effective: February 28, 2025

What you need to know

Goods shipped to Vietnam with a value equal to or less than 1,000,000 VND will be subject to 10% Value Added Tax (VAT) upon import into Vietnam.

Official Vietnam Government News 

Increasing the Limit Value for Personal Postal/Express Items

For: Shippers, Receivers
Shipping: Packages
Effective: December 1, 2024

What you need to know

• Express consignments to China with value equal or less than 2,000 CNY can be cleared as personal effects and are subject to the comprehensive tax rate.
• There is no value limitation for indivisible goods; typically, it consists of 1 item or 1 set of items, and if the items are divided, they will lose their utility. For example, 1 shoulder bag or 1 pair of women's shoes.
• The personal effects include new or used items, whether they are purchased online or bona fide gifts.
• The receiver on the waybill must be an individual.
• The purpose of import can be personal effects or gifts but avoid using the wording “sample”.
• Receiver’s phone number or email should be provided when creating the shipment via the DHL Electronic Shipping Solutions/integrations.

Exemption threshold for B2C imports

For: Shippers, Receivers
Shipping: Packages
December 24, 2025

What you need to know

The De Minimis value, the threshold under which no duties or taxes are levied, for Business to Consumer (B2C) imports has been increased from 75 USD to 150 USD.

The De Minimis threshold refers to the value of goods excluding insurance, shipping, and other applicable costs.

Exemption threshold for B2C imports on Official Israeli Website

Italy Regulatory Fee

For: Shippers, Receivers
Shipping: Packages
January 1, 2026

What you need to know

The Italian Government has introduced a regulatory fee on goods valued under 150 EUR imported from non-European Union1 countries into Italy.

The fee helps offset customs handling costs and manage the rising amount of low-value shipments, supporting stronger compliance and to create a level playing field for local businesses competing with foreign sellers.

There will be a flat fee of 2 EUR per low-value shipment.

Important:

This is a mandatory regulatory fee imposed by the Italian Government and is not a DHL Express fee.

DHL Express will pass the fee to the payer of duties and taxes based on the selected DHL Duty Billing Service. This fee applies to shipments arriving in Italy on or after January 1, 2026, and will appear as a separate line item under ‘LOW VALUE REGULATORY TAX’ on the DHL Express invoice.

Similar measures for low-value shipments are expected to be implemented in other European Union Member States throughout 2026. Implementations may vary by country and we encourage you to monitor updates regularly.

1 European Union: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden.

Italian Government logistics fee PDF

Import VAT

For: Shippers, Receivers
Shipping: Packages
Effective: December 18, 2025

What you need to know

• Non-document goods from the Rest of the World to North Macedonia with a goods value between 0 – 22 EUR will be subject to Value Added Tax (VAT) upon import into North Macedonia.

Official North Macedonian Customs Website

Turkish simplified customs procedure restrictions

For: Shippers, Receivers
Shipping: Packages
Effective: December 17, 2025

What you need to know

The Turkish Ministry of Trade will monitor the limit of five shipments per receiver per month, cleared under the simplified customs declaration procedure through a centralized control and tracking system.

The simplified customs declaration is used in Turkey in case of:

• Business to Business (B2B) shipments with a value for customs purposes* up to 22 EUR
• Business to Consumer (B2C) shipments with a value for customs purposes* for up to 30 EUR

*In Turkey the value for customs purposes is based on the goods value plus freights costs.

Turkish Government PDF

Romania Regulatory Fee

For: Shippers, Receivers
Shipping: Packages
Effective: January 1, 2026

What you need to knowThe Romanian Government has introduced a regulatory fee on goods valued under 150 EUR (excluding insurance/shipping and other applicable costs) imported from non-European Union¹ countries into Romania and cleared under the simplified customs declaration procedure.

The fee helps offset customs handling costs and manage the rising amount of low-value shipments, supporting stronger compliance and to create a level playing field for local businesses competing with foreign sellers.

There will be a flat fee of 25 RON (approximately 5 EUR) per low-value shipment.

¹ European Union: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden.

Important:

This is a mandatory regulatory fee imposed by the Romanian Government and is not a DHL Express fee.

DHL Express will pass the fee to the payer of duties and taxes based on the selected DHL Duty Billing Service. This fee applies to shipments arriving in Romania on or after January 1, 2026, and will appear as a separate line item under ‘LOW VALUE REGULATORY TAX’ on the DHL Express invoice.

Romanian Government Logistics Fee PDF

For: Shippers, Receivers
Shipping: Packages
Effective: January 1, 2025

What you need to know

The Kuwait Customs Authority (KCA) is transitioning from an 8-digit Tariff Classification Code to a 12-digit Tariff Classification Code. When preparing shipments for Kuwait ensure you use valid 12-digit Tariff Classification Codes. Failure to provide these may result in shipment clearance delays.

Learn more: https://www.ecustoms.gov.qa/qccswui/#/home

Duty Tax Paid (DTP) Restriction

For: Shippers, Receivers
Shipping: Packages
Effective: December 1, 2025

What you need to know

• The Government of Burkina Faso has implemented Government Decree No. 2025-311, establishing new compliance conditions for the transit activities of dangerous and strategic goods, specific equipment and materials, medicines, pharmaceutical products, medical equipment and supplies, and goods admitted under customs duty and tax exemption, when entering Burkina Faso.
• The clearance process for these various products mentioned will be carried out with immediate effect by an agency created by the government (FASO TRANSIT ET LOGISTIQUE). DHL Express Burkina Faso will have to hand over the paperwork of the impacted shipments to this national agency for clearance processing and final delivery to the customers.
• As a result, DHL Express Burkina Faso is now unable to clear inbound shipments sent using the DHL Express Duty Tax Paid Service (DTP)
• Customers will no longer be able to use DHL Duty Tax Paid service when shipping to Burkina Faso; The service will be disabled inbound

Burkina Faso Customs 

DHL Express Burkina Faso
Email: bf_cs@dhl.com
Hotline: +226 25311947

Certificate of Origin

For: Shippers, Receivers
Shipping: Packages
Effective: November 12, 2025

What you need to know

The Kenya Revenue Authority has introduced a mandatory Certificate of Origin requirement as part of Section 44A of the Tax Procedures Act, CAP. 496B (amended by the Finance Act, 2025).
This requirement took effect on July 1, 2025, and applies to all goods imported into Kenya.

A Certificate of Origin issued by a competent authority in the exporting country is now required for all imports.
The Certificate of Origin is necessary for DHL Express Kenya to complete the Import Customs Declaration. Without it, shipments cannot be cleared by the Kenyan Customs Authorities.

The following categories of imports do not require a Certificate of Origin:

• Individual packages up to 70 kg with total value at less than USD 1,000 imported via a registered courier (e.g., DHL Express)
• Goods imported by privileged persons and institutions, as listed in the Fifth Schedule of the East African Community Customs Management Act (EACCMA), 2004
• Used goods, including used motor vehicles (covered under the Fifth Schedule of EACCMA 2004)
• Personal baggage
• Personal effects
• Mailbags and postal parcels imported by post (Section 36 of EACCMA 2004; Regulations 112 and 119 of EACCMR 2010)
• Human remains
• Imported samples of no commercial value
• Temporary imports under Section 117 of EACCMA 2004
• Small packages of medicaments under a doctor’s prescription.

Kenya Revenue Authority Website  
DHL Express Kenya – Customs Clearance Team 

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