Express Industry Praises De Minimis Legislation
The Express Association of America applauded recently introduced legislation to raise the de minimis level for U.S. commercial imports to $800, in a Feb. 13 press release. Sens. John Thune, R-S.D., and Ron Wyden, D-Ore., introduced the Low Value Shipment Regulatory Modernization Act, S-489, on Feb. 12 (see 1502120074). Reps. Aaron Schock, R-Ill., and Joe Crowley, D-N.Y., led the bill’s introduction in the House as well.
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
If your job depends on informed compliance, you need International Trade Today. Delivered every business day and available any time online, only International Trade Today helps you stay current on the increasingly complex international trade regulatory environment.
The increase to $800, from the current $200 threshold, would expedite border clearance for low value shipments and allow customs officers to focus on “higher risks such as product safety and protecting intellectual property,” said EAA Executive Director Mike Mullen in the statement. The new measure wouldn’t impact security investigations, because all shipments, regardless of value are screened upon entry into the U.S., said the statement.
The bill has failed to move in past Congresses, but Thune’s office recently said he hopes to include the measure in a Customs Reauthorization bill this year. Mullen said it would help companies and consumers throughout the supply chain. “Eliminating document preparation, processing, and storage requirements for millions of shipments will allow companies and individuals to have lower costs and the environment to benefit from a significant reduction in paper consumption and energy use,” said Mullen.