The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) has voiced strong support for the end of the de minimis rule for low-value commercial shipments, a move they say will provide long-overdue relief to the US textile industry and its workers.
Kim Glas, President and CEO, NCTO praised the Trump administration’s action, which will close a trade measure that she says has been exploited for years by Chinese e-commerce giants and other foreign shippers. Previously, the loophole allowed companies to bypass tariffs and customs reporting on shipments valued at $800 or less.
According to Glas, this practice has devastated US manufacturers, undercut American jobs, and allowed the entry of unsafe, counterfeit, and forced-labor-produced goods. As of August 29, all commercial shipments must adhere to the same rules, including customs documentation and the payment of all applicable duties and fees.
Glas dismissed concerns that the change would disrupt package deliveries. She stated, consumers will still receive their online orders, but now they will arrive through a system that is fair, transparent, and enforceable. Glas asserted, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the US Postal Service are fully equipped to handle the change, with the necessary systems already in place.
This action expands upon a previous suspension of de minimis treatment for low-value commercial shipments from China and Hong Kong that has been in effect since May 2. That initial change already covered the majority of de minimis packages. The new measure ensures that all small package shipments, regardless of their delivery method, are subject to proper inspection, information, and duty collection.
A Washington, DC-based trade association, NCTO represents the entire US textile supply chain. Glas concluded her statement by calling the action a historic win for U.S. industry, American workers, and the integrity of our trade system.
In 2024, the US textile supply chain employed 471,046 people, and the value of its shipments was $63.9 billion.
