in effect
This is a presidential executive order (Executive Order 14227, signed March 2, 2025). It makes a narrow edit to an earlier order that imposed new tariffs (“duties”) on certain goods connected to the southern border situation. Its only job is to rewrite one paragraph of that earlier order.
The earlier order had removed “de minimis” duty-free treatment — the rule that normally lets low-value shipments enter the U.S. without paying tariffs. This amendment puts that duty-free treatment back on, but only temporarily. Duty-free de minimis handling stays available for the covered goods until the Secretary of Commerce formally notifies the President that government systems are ready to “fully and expeditiously” process and collect the tariffs owed on those shipments. Once that notification is given, the duty-free de minimis treatment ends automatically. The order sets no fixed calendar date or dollar figure; the cutoff is triggered by the Commerce Secretary’s readiness notice rather than a deadline.
Importers, shippers, and e-commerce sellers who move low-value covered goods into the U.S. are the main parties, since their shipments can keep entering duty-free until the systems are declared ready. U.S. Customs and the Department of Commerce are affected operationally, as Commerce must build and certify the collection systems that flip the switch. The order also states it creates no legal rights anyone can enforce in court.