Dear Valued US customers

We wanted to provide an update regarding the recent U.S. executive order suspending the de minimis tax exemption for low-value imports. Here’s what’s clear, and what remains uncertain.

What We Know

The U.S. government has announced the suspension of the long-standing de minimis exemption for imports under $800, effective August 29, 2025. This change affects nearly all low-value shipments sent via private carriers such as FedEx, DHL, and UPS, which will now face customs duties and formal clearance procedures.

For postal shipments, such as those sent via Japan Post, duties may either be assessed as a flat fee (between $80–$200 per item depending on origin) or through the 15% ad valorem tariffs based on product category and country-specific rates.

What We Don’t Know

At this stage, no further official clarification has been provided by Japan Post, FedEx, or U.S. Customs and Border Protection regarding how duties will be collected for postal shipments. There is no clear information on how these flat or percentage-based duties will be calculated, nor whether additional documentation or processes will be required.

In short, there is significant uncertainty, with no definitive guidance on how this will be applied in practice for packages from Japan.

What This Means for You

1. We remain firmly committed to our US customers, and will do our best to ensure we service you as best as is possible,
2. Goods Japan will not be charging any duties or taxes on behalf of the U.S. government for the time being. Should that become necessary, we will publish this information along with any corresponding price change,
3. We are doing our best to obtain reliable information, but there may be delays or uncertainty in the meantime,
4. Shipments to the US may experience unexpected delays, or returns, in the coming weeks.

Final Thoughts

We regret that we cannot provide more precise answers at this time. We understand how concerning this situation is, and we sincerely hope that the de minimis exemption, which has been in place for decades, will be reinstated soon.

Please continue to monitor this blog for updates, as we will share any new information as soon as it becomes available. In the meantime, we thank you for your patience, understanding, and continued support. We remain committed to offering you the best possible service and prices, despite these challenging circumstances.