Closing the De Minimis Loophole Act

This legislation, known as the "Closing the De Minimis Loophole Act," aims to eliminate the de minimis treatment for imported goods under the Tariff Act of 1930. This provision currently allows shipments valued below a certain threshold to enter the United States free of duties and taxes, and with minimal formal entry procedures, which the bill seeks to end by striking specific language from the Act. The elimination of de minimis treatment is implemented with a phased approach, applying immediately to articles originating in China and 120 days after enactment for goods from all other countries . The bill mandates the Secretary of the Treasury to conduct a rulemaking process within 120 days to establish new procedures for informal entries, ensuring sufficient data requirements for effective enforcement and accurate collection of duties, including requiring HTS heading numbers for certain goods. This rulemaking also aims to deter unlawful or fraudulent activity through robust penalty regulations and to ensure consistency in treatment for international postal shipments.