What do you think about the de minimus (tariff) change?

[AviatorTom]

Up until recently, imports to the United States did not have to pay an import duty if the value was under US$800. Many foreign companies took advantage of this and imported goods in small lots, and the United States has now terminated this. All goods entering the US are now subject to import duties (tariffs) regardless of their value.

I am a coin collector and recently bought a few coins from sellers in Canada. The cost of the coins was about US$6 and I had to pay about US$0.60 (60 cents) in import duty.

Sure, that's practically nothing, but I wonder how much it cost the US government to process that 60 cents.

Have you been affected by the de minimus changes? Do you think the changes will last, or will they be restored, maybe to a value less than the US$800?

[LiamS95]

I rember back in my late teens going from Canada to visit friends just across the border in the US and our friends always expected us to bring a case of 24 of our Canadian beer. A lady border inspector gave me and my buddy a paper to take into the border office to pay $0.50 duty/tariff on each of our cases of beer. The guy inside asked who sent you in for this? We pointed out which booth anf he said figures it was her. He tore the paper up and sent us on our way with a stamped pass. He said it would cost $25.00 to process the paper work for each case of beer. So the cost would be $50.00 to collect $1.00.

[Cidknee]

I don't have enough information on this but it sounds like a good thing since countries were taking advantage of it. My opinion is let Trump be president. He won the election. He's very good at being the prez!

[exitseven]

it sounds like a loophole that needed to be closed.

[Massageman]

I see $50 being a realistic limit for de minimus.

[Xawyx-2]

Well, I don't live in the USA, so it doesn't affect me.

[DrPepper12]

Tariffs are mostly dumb, unnecessary & counterproductive

[exitseven]

except when foreign countries levy them against the US. Then they make a lot of money and take jobs away from the middle class.
The US has collected over 200 billion dollars so far. Inflation continues to diminish. Next year will be even more lucrative.

[DrPepper12]

WERE A SERVICE ECONOMY!!!