Difference between revisions of "De minimis trade rule"

Revision as of 14:22, February 3, 2025

The de minimis trade rule permits imports of less than $800 into the United States to avoid tariff payments. During Trump 47's "first 100 days" he imposed 10% and 25% tariffs on Mexico, China, and Canada. The White House said that the purpose of the tariffs is not so much (a) to gain more federal revenue as (b) to change the policy of the affected countries: for one thing, Trump is calling for a crackdown on deadly addictive drugs (specifically fentanyl). His strategy is to hurt U.S. trading partners enough to make them crack down on smugglers (and on migrants traveling through Mexico).

Opponents argue that the only significant effects will be (1) retaliatory tariffs and (2) higher prices for American consumers.