New US Customs Charges to Impact UK SME Exporters

The United States Government has announced the suspension of the de minimis threshold for imports, meaning all goods entering the US valued under $800 will now be subject to customs duties from 29 August 2025.

This change is expected to particularly affect UK SMEs and sole traders who export to the US through e-commerce platforms, as low-value consignments will face new costs.

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has described the decision as a “major blow” to smaller firms but emphasised that opportunities remain for UK exporters and that Chambers are ready to support businesses through the changes.

William Bain, Head of Trade Policy at the BCC, said:

“SMEs will need to rethink their sales and distribution plans to deal with these added duties. The Chamber Network in the UK and internationally can provide the best advice, alongside the logistics industry, to overcome these challenges and sustain export growth.”

Suffolk Chamber of Commerce encourages local exporters to contact our International Trade team for advice and guidance on navigating these changes.

For more information, you can contact us at: international@suffolkchamber.co.uk

More detail on the US changes to de minimis thresholds can be found here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/07/suspending-duty-free-de-minimis-treatment-for-all-countries/ 

Read the full BCC response here:
https://www.britishchambers.org.uk/news/2025/07/sme-exporters-hit-by-new-us-customs-charges