US Juggernaut Hits Global Postal Services

Global postal and courier services have been thrown into utter turmoil following the Trump administration's decision to terminate a vintage duty-free provision that allows imports of low-value goods into the country from August 29.

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The latest iteration of regulation, the so-called de minimis tariff exemptions dating back to 2016, has enabled millions of low-income American households to directly import apparel, electronic accessories, cosmetics and toys at a maximum value of $800 per person each day.

Advocates of the abolition justified the controversial move on grounds that these inexpensive imports, which fell outside the scope of regular rigorous customs scrutiny, were of substandard quality and posed a risk to health, safety and national security.

Opponents decried the measure as dealing a severe blow to innovation and competitiveness of several American small businesses that source inputs from predominantly Asian supply chains, not to mention the millions of low-income consumers that depend on cheap imports for daily living.