For years, the de minimis loophole has flooded the U.S. with uninspected, untaxed, and often dangerous goods—from counterfeit products to fentanyl precursors fueling America’s opioid crisis.
CPA announced key leadership changes as CEO Michael Stumo steps down to take on a new role in the Trump administration. Jon Toomey has been elevated as President of CPA to lead the organization and Nick Iacovella has been promoted to Executive Vice President.
As of today, all merchandise originating in China must enter the United States through standard customs procedures, submit full import documentation, and pay applicable duties and taxes—a long-overdue reform to restore order and accountability to America’s trade system.
Valentine will bolster CPA’s advocacy efforts at the federal, state, and local levels, working to advance pro-American trade and economic policies that support domestic manufacturing, strengthen supply chains, and protect American workers.
These programs, which allow foreign e-commerce vendors to bypass U.S. customs processes, will continue to ensure that the de minimis loophole remains a flawed system that undermines American workers, businesses, and national security.
Widely regarded as one of the nation’s leading experts on tariffs, industrial policy, economic modeling, and trade policy, Ferry’s contributions to CPA and the broader economic policy landscape have been transformative.
While the bill’s title suggests a crackdown on the unfolding de minimis catastrophe, in reality it would handcuff CBP’s ability to do anything about it.
For Mr. Lutnick to lead the tariff and trade agenda in the next Administration, he will need an aligned Treasury Secretary to executive critical policies on customs revenue generation, customs valuation, and de minimis.
Either we have a fashion industry or we have de minimis, but we cannot have both, warned Jacob Helberg, one of the 10 commissioners for the U.S. China Economic and Security Review Commission.
CPA will be working closely with President-Elect Trump’s team to craft policies that will make a lasting impact on U.S. trade and industrial policy.