De minimis, a customs rule that allows for duty free shipment and minimal inspection if the overseas vendor claims the value is under $800, is a haven for contraband, whether it’s fake Nikes, childrens’ toys made of lead, or banned food products, Customs and Border Protect (CBP) admitted yet again.
This legislation would end China’s Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status, a necessary move as China continues to flood global markets with artificially cheap goods, displacing U.S. investment and jobs.
Today, the Biden-Harris Administration published an announcement of regulatory changes it intends to pursue vis-a-vis the de minimis loophole.
The tariffs, originally implemented during the Trump administration and strongly supported by CPA, will now be raised on critical sectors, including steel and aluminum, semiconductors, electric vehicles, batteries, solar cells, critical minerals, ship-to-shore cranes, and medical products.
We commend the Biden administration for taking initial steps towards closing the de minimis loophole, which China and transnational criminal organizations have weaponized against America.
The majority of House Democrats have joined forces with outgoing Oregon Congressman Earl Blumenauer in pleading that the President repeal the de minimis loophole in Customs law – a provision that many refer to as the China free trade agreement.
Tariffs must be part of the toolkit to manage the influx of products from Chinese tech companies, whether from e-commerce platforms like Temu or from a growing number of low-cost microchip manufacturers set to flood the global market with semiconductors.
By leaving out bills that would prevent Chinese companies from accessing Inflation Reduction Act tax credits, restrict U.S. capital from flowing into China, and close the de minimis loophole, the House is missing a critical opportunity for meaningful action.
