Exporting to the United States: operational clarifications against surtaxes
After the entry into force of the reciprocal customs duties on imports into the United States against many countries, Donald Trump almost immediately announced the suspension of this measure for a period of 90 days (cf. Commercial War: 90-Day Truce for US Reciprocal Tariffs, Except for China). This truce applies to all countries which were subject to reciprocal tariffs higher than the 10% surtax which entered into force on 5 April for all imports entering the United States. with the exception of China (including Hong Kong and Macau). This 10 % surcharge remains in force for all imports from all trading partners throughout the 90-day break, except for China, affected by specific sanctions. Note: Goods shipped before April 5 and entered the United States between April 5 and May 27, 2025 are not affected by reciprocal customs duties.
In order to avoid circumvention of China's measures by taking advantage of the de minimis threshold, the decreeAmendment to Reciprocal tariffs and updated duties as applied to low-value imports from the people issued on 8 April 2025, amends the exemption for Chinese imports of low value.
The rate of customs duty applicable to postal consignments of Minimal from 2 May 2025 (00h01 ET, Eastern Time) will be as follows:
- 90% of the value of the package will now be subject to customs duty (compared to 30% previously),
- Additional USD 75 per post (instead of prior USD 25),
- As of June 1, 2025, this surcharge will increase to USD 150 per mail.
Products of Chinese origin (including Hong Kong and Macao) remain subject to two surcharges cumulative under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act:
- Surtax « Fentanyl » 20 % applicable since 3 March 2025,
- Surtax « Reciprocal tariffs » 125% effective 9 April 2025.
Exemptions and exclusions
However, certain products benefit from exemptions, including:
- Products in transit loaded before 5 April and entered between 5 April and 27 May 2025 (Customs Code 9903.01.28),
- Steel and aluminium, subject to specific measures (section 232),
- Products listed in Annex II : copper, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, wood, critical minerals, energy,
- Motor vehicles and their parts, also subject to specific measures (section 232)
- Products covered by the provision 50 U.S.C. 1702(b).
Attention, this information is likely to change at any time in the pace of presidential announcements and regulatory changes.
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