CBP suspends $800 de minimis exemption, increasing paperwork for U.S. air cargo

Based on · First reported 4 Oct 2026

U.S. Customs and Border Protection indefinitely suspended the $800 de minimis exemption in June, meaning every shipment now requires an informal or formal entry, a 10‑digit tariff classification and duty payment.
Although the freight weight has not risen, the paperwork burden has grown at the few gateways that hold clearance capacity, while CBP has not added staff for over a decade; the Airforwarders Association warned the Department of Homeland Security against plans to reduce or halt CBP processing at airports in sanctuary jurisdictions, and Greenville‑Spartanburg International, with an 11,001‑ft runway, 35 acres of cargo ramp and over 1,000 acres of land, could be used for additional air cargo.

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