CustomsCity Blog

eManifest & Customs Compliance News

Contact Us
blog
How to Clear U.S. Postal Shipments in a Post De Minimis World 1

How to Clear U.S. Postal Shipments in a Post De Minimis World

For years, eCommerce merchants, along with their clients, took advantage of the De Minimis rule. Packages valued at $800 or less could pass through U.S. customs with no duties, no fees, and no additional paperwork. During the eCommerce boom, this perk allowed small sellers to compete on a global scale and provided buyers with inexpensive overseas products with no Customs friction. This allowed eCommerce sellers to process tens of millions of low-value packages and provided businesses

ACAS & AMS Filing Requirements for Transiting Cargo via the U.S 1

ACAS & AMS Filing Requirements for Transiting Cargo via the U.S.

The USA’s trade policy has seen a dramatic shift in the past year. Regulations are stricter, and so is the scrutiny on all shipments coming into or transiting via the USA. As a result, moving cargo into or through the United States is not as easy as it once was. If you are an air carrier or a freight forwarder, you probably rely on the Air Cargo Advance Screening (ACAS) program or

Section 321 De Minimis Shipments of Products Regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration FDA 1

Section 321 (De Minimis) Shipments of Products Regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Introduction The regulatory environment for low-value imports into the United States has greatly changed. On July 9, 2025, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), in collaboration with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), enacted a policy change that removes the de minimis exemption of FDA-regulated products under Section 321 of the Tariff Act of 1930. In the past, importers were allowed to import eligible FDA-regulated products into the U.S.

What to Do When CBP Rejects Your Entry, And How to Avoid It Next Time 1

What to Do When CBP Rejects Your Entry, And How to Avoid It Next Time

You’ve submitted all the forms, and all your labels are accurate, yet your shipment gets rejected by CBP.  Sound familiar? This situation isn’t rare; in fact, it isn’t even unusual. Many importers, both first-timers and seasoned ones, often find themselves in this situation.   The kicker is that most of these rejections aren’t the result of egregious violations; they occur because of the simplest of errors, such as incorrect entry types,

Decoding the Role of HTS Codes in Ensuring Accurate Customs Clearance for E commerce Shipments 1

Decoding the Role of HTS Codes in Ensuring Accurate Customs Clearance for E-commerce Shipments

Thinking about importing goods into the U.S.? Between regulations, documentation, and shipping protocols, there’s a lot to navigate. One detail that often gets overlooked until it causes problems? The HTS code. While ‘HTS’ is an abbreviation for Harmonized Tariff Schedule, it is more than an empty box to be filled in on customs forms—it is the determining factor for the rate of duty, the regulations imposed, and whether the shipment

Understanding the Differences Between Type 01, Type 11, and Type 86 Customs Entries When to Use Each

Understanding the Differences Between Type 01, Type 11, and Type 86 Customs Entries: When to Use Each

As an importer, clearing customs is perhaps the most important or, if not, one of the most important milestones in your supply chain.  If you sail through the process without a hitch, your costs stay in check, your timelines remain on track, and your compliance record stays clean. Much of this comes down to selecting the right entry type for your shipment.   Now, for someone new to the world of

Beyond Type 86 How Data Driven Customs Solutions Will Shape Cross Border E commerce

Beyond Type 86: How Data-Driven Customs Solutions Will Shape Cross-Border E-commerce

Since its inception, Entry Type 86 has been the backbone of e-commerce businesses that rely on low-value shipments. This is because it allows all packages under the De Minimis value of $800 to clear customs with minimal hassle.   That said, things changed on May 2nd, 2025—the customs process is getting stricter, and the list of exemptions is smaller. The news is especially grim if your e-commerce business relies on imports

Navigating the End of De Minimis Building a Future Ready Customs Strategy

Navigating the End of De Minimis: Building a Future-Ready Customs Strategy

Starting May 2, 2025, duty-free imports from China and Hong Kong under the De Minimis provision (Section 321 of the Tariff Act) came to an end. In its place, Executive Order 14256 introduces sweeping changes—including flat-rate fees and a hefty 54% ad valorem duty—that will fundamentally reshape how U.S. importers do business. The CBP is also proposing additional rules that would exclude entire product categories exempt under the De Minimis policy

The Digital Revolution in Customs Compliance How AI and Automation Are Transforming Section 321, FDA Prior Notice, and Trade Compliance in 2025 1

The Digital Revolution in Customs Compliance: How AI and Automation Are Transforming Section 321, FDA Prior Notice, and Trade Compliance in 2025

In 2025, the U.S. is tightening trade policies with stricter customs rules, updated tariffs, and new export controls, impacting shipments from China, Mexico, and Canada in early February 2025. A key change is the suspension and then a delay of the Section 321 de minimis entry for China origin shipments.  On February 1, 2025, President Trump signed an executive action ending duty-free entry for shipments under $800. Initially set for

What is CBP Entry Type 11 1

What is CBP Entry Type 11

When importing goods into the US, individuals and businesses must adhere to various customs regulations set by the US Customs & Border Protection (CBP). One of the most critical aspects of the process of importation is understanding entry types. This is particularly so for CBP Entry Type 11 if dealing with informal shipments below a value threshold of $2500 USD. In this article, we will investigate CBP Entry Type 11,