On April 2, 2025, the White House issued an executive order to amend existing duties on low-value imports from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in response to the ongoing synthetic opioid crisis in the United States. The order eliminates duty-free treatment for products valued at or under $800 that are shipped from the PRC or Hong Kong. This change aims to address the challenge posed by illicit shipments that often evade detection through deceptive shipping methods.

The new regulations, effective May 2, 2025, will require these imports to be processed through the Automated Commercial Environment operated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). This will ensure that all applicable duties are collected. Specifically, shipments will incur additional duties, including a 30 percent ad valorem duty or a specific duty of $25 or $50 per item, depending on the timing of the import. Transportation carriers will also be responsible for reporting and remitting these duties to CBP, enhancing accountability within the international postal network.

Additionally, the order mandates a report from the Secretary of Commerce within 90 days to evaluate the impact of these measures on American industries and consumers. This step highlights the administration’s commitment to monitoring the effectiveness of the duties and considering further actions if necessary, including the potential extension of these regulations to packages from Macau. Overall, these amendments aim to strengthen the United States’ ability to combat the influx of synthetic opioids while maintaining the flow of legitimate international trade.

Original: article