Customs Regulatory Updates – Americas

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

What you need to know

On February 1, 2025, the U.S. President issued three Executive Orders to impose additional tariffs and suspend De Minimis treatment on all goods with country of origin Canada, China/Hong Kong and Mexico (Made in Canada, China/Hong Kong and Mexico), invoking emergency economic powers under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Subsequent Executive Orders amended the tariff provisions and postponed the suspension of the De Minimis treatment.

IEEPA Tariff Levels and Effective Dates:

• From February 4, 2025, all goods with country of origin China/Hong Kong imported into the United States, regardless of where they are shipped from: 20% IEEPA tariff (Originally 10%). This tariff applies in addition to any other applicable import customs duties.
• From March 7, 2025, all goods with country of origin Mexico imported into the United States, regardless of where they are shipped from: 25% IEEPA tariff, in addition to any other applicable import customs duties unless the shipment qualifies under the United States, Mexico and Canada Agreement (USMCA).
• From March 7, 2025, all goods with country of origin Canada imported into the United States, regardless of where they are shipped from: 25% IEEPA tariff, or 10% in case of energy products, in addition to any other applicable import customs duties, unless the shipment qualifies under the USMCA.
• Shipments with value up to 800 USD containing products made in Canada, China/Hong Kong, Mexico continue to be eligible for De Minimis treatment and as such, no duties are levied.

What does this mean today:
Shipments containing products made in Canada, Mexico, China or Hong Kong with value above 800 USD, are subject to import customs duties based on the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), which may include up to three different duties, including General Duty Rate, Section 301 duty, and the recently implemented IEEPA duty.

IEEPA Executive Orders on Canada  
IEEPA Executive Orders on China  
IEEPA Executive Orders on Mexico  

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

What you need to know

On February 10, 2025, U.S. President Trump issued two Proclamations to increase the level and scope of tariffs on steel and aluminum products under Section 232.

These changes consist of:

• A 25% tariff applicable to steel and aluminum products that are currently listed under Section 232, (increasing aluminum from 10% to 25% tariff) and to a wider range of steel and aluminum derivative products such as:
  • household items (cookware, tableware, containers, etc.)
  • construction materials (nails, staples, wires, etc.)
  • miscellaneous articles (sewing needles, metal lamps, etc.)
  • consumer goods (skis, sports equipment)
  • electronic and mechanical parts (computer parts, auto parts, etc.)

Important:

• De Minimis shipments (below 800 USD) are NOT subject to Section 232 tariffs.
• All shipments above 800 USD containing steel and aluminum products listed under Section 232, regardless of country of origin, are subject to a 25% tariff in addition to any other applicable duties.

White House Adjustments on Imports of Steel and Aluminum  

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  

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  

For: Shippers, Receivers
Shipping: Packages
Effective: October 15, 2024

What you need to know

For Low value shipments (of less than 2,000 USD and 50Kg) to Colombia that require the application of a specific Tariff Classification Code for tariff benefits, must include the 10-digit Import Tariff Classification Code in the air waybill. If not included, the tariff benefits cannot be applied, and the generic Express/Courier Tariff Classification Code 9807200000 (with 10% duty and 19% tax) will apply as per the standard express courier process.

Resolution 0039 of 2021/ Decree 360 of 2021  
Tariff–DIAN  
Modality-Postal traffic and urgent shipments  

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

New Import duty rates under “Programa Remessa Conforme” (PRC) – Compliant Shipment Program

What you need to know

• Value basis for duty/tax calculation for all Low-Value Shipments (shipments up to 3,000 USD) changes from the “value of the goods” (FOB) to the “purchase value of the goods” (CIF).
• New import customs duty rates for Business-to-Consumer (B2C) shipments under PRC:
  • Shipments with value up to 50 USD (CIF): 20% Duty/17% Tax
  • Shipments with value from 50.01 USD to 3,000 USD (CIF): 60% Duty with a 20 USD discount/17% Tax
• All shipments up to 3,000 USD (CIF) NOT eligible for PRC will continue to be subject to a 60% Duty/17% Tax.

Shippers:

• Provide complete and accurate Commercial Invoice data, ideally via one of the DHL Express Electronic Shipping Solutions. This will help to categorize and process the shipments adequately, including those qualifying for the PRC preferential treatment.
• PRC-registered e-commerce companies must consider the new applicable import customs duty rates to calculate and collect accurate duties and taxes from their clients in Brazil.

Explanation of New Rules  
Compliant Shipment Program (PRC) and How to Register  
List of PRC-registered companies  
Provisional Measure N 1,236  

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

What you need to know

The Jamaican Customs Authorities increased the Import Customs Duties and Taxes De Minimis value threshold from 50 USD to 100 USD based on the value of the goods. The De Minimis value allows personal items to be imported into Jamaica without additional Import Customs Duties and Taxes.

Jamaica Customs Agency Website   

For: Shippers, Receivers
Shipping: Packages
Effective: June 28, 2024

What you need to know

Per El Salvador customs authorities, personal (non-commercial) shipments, not exceeding US$300 (declared value of the goods) sent by private individual shippers to private individuals in El Salvador, are exempt from import permit requirements.

El Salvador Customs    

For: Shippers, Receivers
Shipping: Packages
Effective: August 1, 2023

What you need to know

Import shipments up to $50 USD are exempt from duty as part of Brazil’s Compliant Shipment Program (Programa Remessa Conforme).

Learn about Brazil Federal Revenue Service (RFB) Compliant Shipment Program   

For: Shippers, Receivers
Shipping: Packages
Effective: September 23, 2022

What you need to know

Argentina Customs Authorities reduced the formal import clearance value threshold from 3,000 to 1,000 USD.

In addition, on November 16, 2022, the Argentinean Customs Authorities indicated the only exceptions to this regulatory change are imports conducted by Argentinean Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). Each MSME that meets applicable requirements may maintain the existing import clearance value threshold of 3,000 USD for a limited number of shipments.

Federal Administration of Public Revenues (AFIP)  

For: Importers
Shipping: Packages
Effective: May 13, 2024

What you need to know

• The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) Assessment and Revenue Management (CARM) is a multi-year initiative that is changing the way CBSA manages commercial goods being imported into Canada, including collection of duties and taxes
• The CARM Client Portal (CCP) was launched for use by importers, customs brokers and trade consultants, who must register and create an account
• Importers into Canada will need to register and delegate authority to their respective broker, such as DHL, via CCP, enabling them to manage their commercial importation activities
• DHL can help you understand what CARM means to you

DHL Express – Understanding CARM  

For: Shippers, Receivers
Shipping: Packages
Effective: June 21, 2022

The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) has established rules regarding importing products from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region into the United States.

What you need to know

• Customs authorities may detain, exclude, and/or seize and forfeit items
• The Importer of Record may be required to provide evidence clearly confirming items are not the product of forced labor

U.S. Customs and Border Protection